. . . and here we are for five days at Center Parcs, Elveden. I has been many, many years since I was last here, too long, maybe, but never mind.
We've never stayed in the hotel before. It's really nice and comfortable and, if I can, I will post some photos soon. If I can't (laptop connection issues) I will do so when I get home.
Yesterday we arrived, had a swim (just as good as we remembered it and Alex's face was a delight) and went to Bella Italia for dinner.
Today we will have lunch at the pancake house, walk around and have an evening swim. I'm here for a rest and a rest is what I will have!
Alex has very kindly let me use his laptop so now I will finish and let him have it back!
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Monday, 28 July 2014
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Monday (Sunday evening really)
I'm doing this now because I doubt I will have time tomorrow. My house sitters are arriving and I am departing for a few days away. I ought to be able to continue blogging, but if there are connection problems, please don't worry if there's no blog.
It's been an extremely busy day today but I'm just about all set now. I just need to pop everything in the case, locate my Kindle (where * did * I put it?) and make the picnic lunch: the first and last will be done tomorrow morning and I have no idea whether I will find the K or not. Most annoying.
So what did I do? Well, I made shortbread, ginger nuts and lemon courgette muffins (with orange oil instead of lemon zest). I made a new dish for lunch and have blogged about it. Please do go and look, it really is a very scrummy recipe - thank you, Joan and your American friend.
I did more washing and more ironing. I made up beds for my lovely house sitters. I picked runner beans, sliced them and froze them. I tidied up the kitchen (several times). I sorted out the garden and sprayed the tomatoes against blight, just in case. I went shopping. I got my things together.
I surely will sleep well tonight!
It's been an extremely busy day today but I'm just about all set now. I just need to pop everything in the case, locate my Kindle (where * did * I put it?) and make the picnic lunch: the first and last will be done tomorrow morning and I have no idea whether I will find the K or not. Most annoying.
So what did I do? Well, I made shortbread, ginger nuts and lemon courgette muffins (with orange oil instead of lemon zest). I made a new dish for lunch and have blogged about it. Please do go and look, it really is a very scrummy recipe - thank you, Joan and your American friend.
I did more washing and more ironing. I made up beds for my lovely house sitters. I picked runner beans, sliced them and froze them. I tidied up the kitchen (several times). I sorted out the garden and sprayed the tomatoes against blight, just in case. I went shopping. I got my things together.
I surely will sleep well tonight!
Sunday
Phew. It was a real scorcher yesterday afternoon and still uncomfortable by bedtime. I've heard it is supposed to be cooling down but I have to say I have seen, or maybe I mean felt, no sign of any cooling down, not yet.
It is pleasant now, of course. The windows are open, the coolness is filling the house, it is all really rather pleasant and peaceful.
However, I glance to my right and there's a great long list of Things To Do. I guess none of them will take all that long but it does look daunting. What it doesn't say is 'ironing'. That's because I have an empty ironing basket. Really. First time since forever. OK, so there's things on the drying rack so I suppose it ought to say ironing . . . there, just added it to the list. How sad!
I've just gone out to survey my estate (!) and I notice that there's a large plum tomato starting to ripen. Yesss! Another week or so and I will be swamped with the things and then I can make passata, etc, for the freezer. Ditto with the runner beans. I don't think my house sitter is a runner bean type of girl so I shall offer them to Dave and Anna.
The beans look really nice now, growing up and over the archway. In fact, given that it is a little garden and I'm certainly no gardener, the whole place looks good. I don't have the time for a fully blown 'garden' at the moment but maybe, after retirement, I shall think of maybe having some of the slabs up to create a more 'sensible' growing bed. We shall see - plenty of time to think about that.
I had a bit of a chuckle the other day. A letter arrived from the council or whatever it is that does these things regarding the fact that I am now of 'pensionable' age. It use to be 60, of course, but I got caught up in this increase of working life thing which has angered people so very much. I think I'd be angry too, if I didn't love my job so very much.
What really made me smile though was that I can get a bus pass. I think I will, you never know, do you, and if they do phase it out, I may as well get in before then. I must put it on my list of Things To Do - but not the one next to me right now!!!
And talking of the one next to me, I ought to get started.
It is pleasant now, of course. The windows are open, the coolness is filling the house, it is all really rather pleasant and peaceful.
However, I glance to my right and there's a great long list of Things To Do. I guess none of them will take all that long but it does look daunting. What it doesn't say is 'ironing'. That's because I have an empty ironing basket. Really. First time since forever. OK, so there's things on the drying rack so I suppose it ought to say ironing . . . there, just added it to the list. How sad!
I've just gone out to survey my estate (!) and I notice that there's a large plum tomato starting to ripen. Yesss! Another week or so and I will be swamped with the things and then I can make passata, etc, for the freezer. Ditto with the runner beans. I don't think my house sitter is a runner bean type of girl so I shall offer them to Dave and Anna.
The beans look really nice now, growing up and over the archway. In fact, given that it is a little garden and I'm certainly no gardener, the whole place looks good. I don't have the time for a fully blown 'garden' at the moment but maybe, after retirement, I shall think of maybe having some of the slabs up to create a more 'sensible' growing bed. We shall see - plenty of time to think about that.
I had a bit of a chuckle the other day. A letter arrived from the council or whatever it is that does these things regarding the fact that I am now of 'pensionable' age. It use to be 60, of course, but I got caught up in this increase of working life thing which has angered people so very much. I think I'd be angry too, if I didn't love my job so very much.
What really made me smile though was that I can get a bus pass. I think I will, you never know, do you, and if they do phase it out, I may as well get in before then. I must put it on my list of Things To Do - but not the one next to me right now!!!
And talking of the one next to me, I ought to get started.
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Saturday
Good morning to the weekend, gentle readers. It looks as if it is going to be another lovely day. I can see the sun chasing away the remaining shadows on the sides of the houses and the sky looks clear.
Yesterday was, of course, another hot day. It was lovely in the morning and then clouded over. There were some rumbles of thunder and one very sharp shower followed by a few drops now and again and after than it did feel fresher for a time. Thank goodness too, because I'd left my bedroom curtains open by mistake. Normally I close them as it is almost south facing so gets the full sun for much of the day. As it was, it wasn't too bad and I slept quite well again.
I managed to do some serious sorting out of paperwork. That wasn't because I wanted to, it was because I couldn't find my mobile top up card. I now have a much tidier desk but no card. It should have been in my bag but wasn't, so goodness knows where it could be! I had to go online to the site and register my phone, something I never got round to doing when I first got the phone a very long time ago now. It's all topped up and ready for the holiday now and I daresay that wretched card will turn up at some point.
I popped round to school to pick up my laptop (I'd left it there for some updating, etc) and then decided I would go to Wyvale and see what bargains they might have. I had a good look at their tomatoes and was sorely tempted to pick all the ripe tomatoes which seemed to have just been left, before they just went off. In the end I succumbed to the charms of a titchy little miniature yellow/orange cherry. I'd been looking at them on line when I bought my plants and nearly bought one then. It's a bit of a novelty really but if all the tomatoes already there ripen, it will have paid for itself. I have six inside which are already ripe (cheese and tomato sarnies for lunch, anyone?) and you can see on the photo how many more there are. I will give it a good feed this weekend and then we will see - I haven't lost much if it gives up and dies on me.
I also bought six fuchsias for a pound which will fill in the gaps in the middle bed and, at around 16p each, is great value. I'll get them in today.
I was looking thoughtfully at my cherry tomato plant this morning. It was large when I got it, it threatened to take over the living room at one point and I had to move it out of the grow house because it was taking over. It just grew and grew. Just now I moved it over to the other side of the garden to the supporting wires along the fence and, given that it is already producing ripe fruit, I will let it grow more and trail it along the fence. I've pinched out many of the side shoots but it really is a very tall plant. It's hard to describe so here's a photo. You can see how long the trusses are. It's not the handsomest looking plant in the garden, that's for sure, and it was fairly munched by the caterpillars at first so it looks bedraggled, but it seems to be a fighter and I think it will be happier (and possibly more attractive) there where it has room to stretch. What do you think?
Well, sitting here won't buy the baby a new bonnet. I need to get going and do stuff. All sorts of stuff, in fact, preferably before it gets hot and sweaty. But first, a second mug of coffee. After all, it IS holiday!
Yesterday was, of course, another hot day. It was lovely in the morning and then clouded over. There were some rumbles of thunder and one very sharp shower followed by a few drops now and again and after than it did feel fresher for a time. Thank goodness too, because I'd left my bedroom curtains open by mistake. Normally I close them as it is almost south facing so gets the full sun for much of the day. As it was, it wasn't too bad and I slept quite well again.
I managed to do some serious sorting out of paperwork. That wasn't because I wanted to, it was because I couldn't find my mobile top up card. I now have a much tidier desk but no card. It should have been in my bag but wasn't, so goodness knows where it could be! I had to go online to the site and register my phone, something I never got round to doing when I first got the phone a very long time ago now. It's all topped up and ready for the holiday now and I daresay that wretched card will turn up at some point.
I popped round to school to pick up my laptop (I'd left it there for some updating, etc) and then decided I would go to Wyvale and see what bargains they might have. I had a good look at their tomatoes and was sorely tempted to pick all the ripe tomatoes which seemed to have just been left, before they just went off. In the end I succumbed to the charms of a titchy little miniature yellow/orange cherry. I'd been looking at them on line when I bought my plants and nearly bought one then. It's a bit of a novelty really but if all the tomatoes already there ripen, it will have paid for itself. I have six inside which are already ripe (cheese and tomato sarnies for lunch, anyone?) and you can see on the photo how many more there are. I will give it a good feed this weekend and then we will see - I haven't lost much if it gives up and dies on me.
 |
| It's called 'Venus' and is intended for small container gardens. http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/garden-shop/seeds/tomato-seeds-a-to-z/v/ |
I also bought six fuchsias for a pound which will fill in the gaps in the middle bed and, at around 16p each, is great value. I'll get them in today.
I was looking thoughtfully at my cherry tomato plant this morning. It was large when I got it, it threatened to take over the living room at one point and I had to move it out of the grow house because it was taking over. It just grew and grew. Just now I moved it over to the other side of the garden to the supporting wires along the fence and, given that it is already producing ripe fruit, I will let it grow more and trail it along the fence. I've pinched out many of the side shoots but it really is a very tall plant. It's hard to describe so here's a photo. You can see how long the trusses are. It's not the handsomest looking plant in the garden, that's for sure, and it was fairly munched by the caterpillars at first so it looks bedraggled, but it seems to be a fighter and I think it will be happier (and possibly more attractive) there where it has room to stretch. What do you think?
 |
Friday, 25 July 2014
Friday
Friday! Nearly a week of the holiday over. What have I achieved this week? What have I done?
Well - I've slept a lot. An awful lot. That can't be a bad thing really. Even yesterday I slept twice round at Beth's while waiting for my car to be serviced and MOTed. I think (hope) I am just catching up although I do wish I didn't wake quite so early each morning.
I've done some cooking. Recipes are on my other blog.
The car is now MOTed and road taxed but the bill was a bit ouch. Something to do with emissions and a catalytic converter. Funnily enough, I transferred an amount that was with a tenner of the final bill from my savings yesterday so that's taken off some of the stress.
What else have I done? Not a lot really, but I'm enjoying the holiday and surely that's what it is all about?
Today? Well, who knows. I'm making no promises! It was jolly hot again yesterday and I thought I wouldn't sleep all that well overnight, but I did. I'm always up early but it was, for me, OK early, not stupid o'clock.
The middle bed is looking quite odd since I had out a lot of the crocosmia. It was the stuff I sprayed (mostly) and hadn't flowered, so it wasn't looking amazing anyway but the tall green and brown speckled leaf-spires took up some room and what with the lupin also not being there, it's all a bit bare. I like it better though, despite the emptiness. It was getting a bit overcrowded. Very overcrowded, in fact.
The Japanese anemone is budding up now, which is great. They do tend to take up a fair amount of space so that's some filling in (or is it in-filling?) done. I need to look out for things I would like in that bed - trouble free perennials that don't spread too much. But just at the moment it looks as if it is taking time to just breathe properly and that's OK with me!
Actually, thinking about it, I have a heuchera in the leafy aromatic bed that is seriously crowded out. It is beautiful but can't really be seen. Maybe I could move that to the middle bed. I'll think on that one.
The surprise tomatoes are definitely here to stay and yesterday I noticed some flowers which means fruit cannot be far behind. Amazing! Ditto with the one dwarf bean. I have no idea why the others didn't survive really but I shall have another go next year and I guess I'd not have had the surprise of the tomatoes if the beans had all come up! Silver linings.
Talking of tomatoes, I took six over to Beth yesterday and there's another several ripening too. They may be ready on Sunday but if not my house sitter can enjoy them next week. Ditto with the runner beans which look as if they are just about to glut - there's loads and loads of them coming on now plus so many flowers. The two red pepper plants have about eight peppers developing nicely with, again, loads of flowers. The chili is also flourishing. They obviously like this very hot weather a lot more than I do.
And talking of weather (because I always do), it looks as if we might get some light, thundery rain today, early and middle afternoon, just when it is at its hottest. Not nice! For now the windows are open, the air is cool and I'm glad I wake early.
Have a lovely day and stay cool as much as you can!
Well - I've slept a lot. An awful lot. That can't be a bad thing really. Even yesterday I slept twice round at Beth's while waiting for my car to be serviced and MOTed. I think (hope) I am just catching up although I do wish I didn't wake quite so early each morning.
I've done some cooking. Recipes are on my other blog.
The car is now MOTed and road taxed but the bill was a bit ouch. Something to do with emissions and a catalytic converter. Funnily enough, I transferred an amount that was with a tenner of the final bill from my savings yesterday so that's taken off some of the stress.
What else have I done? Not a lot really, but I'm enjoying the holiday and surely that's what it is all about?
Today? Well, who knows. I'm making no promises! It was jolly hot again yesterday and I thought I wouldn't sleep all that well overnight, but I did. I'm always up early but it was, for me, OK early, not stupid o'clock.
The middle bed is looking quite odd since I had out a lot of the crocosmia. It was the stuff I sprayed (mostly) and hadn't flowered, so it wasn't looking amazing anyway but the tall green and brown speckled leaf-spires took up some room and what with the lupin also not being there, it's all a bit bare. I like it better though, despite the emptiness. It was getting a bit overcrowded. Very overcrowded, in fact.
The Japanese anemone is budding up now, which is great. They do tend to take up a fair amount of space so that's some filling in (or is it in-filling?) done. I need to look out for things I would like in that bed - trouble free perennials that don't spread too much. But just at the moment it looks as if it is taking time to just breathe properly and that's OK with me!
Actually, thinking about it, I have a heuchera in the leafy aromatic bed that is seriously crowded out. It is beautiful but can't really be seen. Maybe I could move that to the middle bed. I'll think on that one.
The surprise tomatoes are definitely here to stay and yesterday I noticed some flowers which means fruit cannot be far behind. Amazing! Ditto with the one dwarf bean. I have no idea why the others didn't survive really but I shall have another go next year and I guess I'd not have had the surprise of the tomatoes if the beans had all come up! Silver linings.
Talking of tomatoes, I took six over to Beth yesterday and there's another several ripening too. They may be ready on Sunday but if not my house sitter can enjoy them next week. Ditto with the runner beans which look as if they are just about to glut - there's loads and loads of them coming on now plus so many flowers. The two red pepper plants have about eight peppers developing nicely with, again, loads of flowers. The chili is also flourishing. They obviously like this very hot weather a lot more than I do.
And talking of weather (because I always do), it looks as if we might get some light, thundery rain today, early and middle afternoon, just when it is at its hottest. Not nice! For now the windows are open, the air is cool and I'm glad I wake early.
Have a lovely day and stay cool as much as you can!
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Thursday
Good morning. I woke at very stupid o'clock this morning and came downstairs as I just couldn't nod off again. Having had a slice of lemon courgette cake (very, very nice, see other blog for details, highly recommended) and a decaf, I can feel the waves of sleep coming closer and closer so I reckon I'll pop back to bed after I've finished this.
Alex is not home after spending two days and one night with his ageing Nan. He's been an absolute delight and I'm missing him already so it is fortunate that I will be round at Beth's today while my car is being serviced and MOTd
I had a lovely surprise yesterday evening. Dave and Anna came round and stayed for a while sharing a bottle of red with me. They scooped up lots of crocosmia too - I've had to thin out the crocosmia as it's just too much and has overshadowed other planting - and taken it away to be used elsewhere. Perhaps the cerinthe and the Japanese anemone stand a chance now. It's looking quite bare but that's partly because of the lack of lupin and I'm very much hoping that will come back next year. We shall see.
So today the car is being MOTd and then I can road tax it and that's off my mind for another year. I always do it online now. It's so very easy and you have ten days grace from the start of the new disc to allow time for it to arrive. My experience is that it takes one or two working days. If I tax it later today, it should arrive on Monday.
The car is so old now, I am always expecting it to be very, very expensive at MOT time but, apart from when the cam belt needed replacing, it's been very moderate. However, fingers are always crossed.
Right, well, I am back off to bed now so fingers crossed for a bit more sleep. Have a great day!
Alex is not home after spending two days and one night with his ageing Nan. He's been an absolute delight and I'm missing him already so it is fortunate that I will be round at Beth's today while my car is being serviced and MOTd
I had a lovely surprise yesterday evening. Dave and Anna came round and stayed for a while sharing a bottle of red with me. They scooped up lots of crocosmia too - I've had to thin out the crocosmia as it's just too much and has overshadowed other planting - and taken it away to be used elsewhere. Perhaps the cerinthe and the Japanese anemone stand a chance now. It's looking quite bare but that's partly because of the lack of lupin and I'm very much hoping that will come back next year. We shall see.
So today the car is being MOTd and then I can road tax it and that's off my mind for another year. I always do it online now. It's so very easy and you have ten days grace from the start of the new disc to allow time for it to arrive. My experience is that it takes one or two working days. If I tax it later today, it should arrive on Monday.
The car is so old now, I am always expecting it to be very, very expensive at MOT time but, apart from when the cam belt needed replacing, it's been very moderate. However, fingers are always crossed.
Right, well, I am back off to bed now so fingers crossed for a bit more sleep. Have a great day!
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