Friday

Good morning everyone.  Last day of the working week (for most) and last day of the month!  It was gorgeous weather yesterday, warm but not hot, breezy and sunny.  A perfect day for going out and about.

The car survived its MOT, thank goodness, so I am all legal for another year.  There are a few things that need doing but they are not things that affect the MOT so I shall get the car booked in for those some time soon.

Then Jackie and I set off for St Andrew's Church, Greensted and had a really lovely time.  I'll post about it separately another time as I need to go through the photos and edit them first but just to say it is such a peaceful place and we had a thorough look around before sitting on a bench in the graveyard and chatting about this, that and the other.

Once home, we had a late lunch of home made tomato soup and lots more chatter after which Jackie departed before the rush hour.  I then had a nice sit down in between loads of washing (my own this time) until Beth turned up to collect the washing and ironing I did.

Taken last time I had home made tomato soup!

In the evening it was Slimming World and , three cheers, I have lost four pounds so it's a great start.  Here's hoping it continues.

Today is a quieter day.  I have a bit of shopping, a bit of ironing, a bit of housework . . . you get the idea, I am sure.

Just to let you know that if I miss a post over the weekend, it's OK, there's not a problem and will be back in full voice on Monday.  Have a splendid weekend.

Thursday

Good morning, all.  I'm in a bit of a rush this morning as the car is due for its MOT at eight thirty and straight after that a friend is round for lunch (so I have to tidy downstairs as much as I can!).  Then we are off to look at Greensted Church which is supposed to be the oldest wooden church in the world.  Long time readers may remember that I have already been there once, ages ago, but Jackie hasn't and I would love to revisit.

Later on, this evening in fact, it's my first SW weigh in meeting so my fingers are crossed for that.

Should be good!

Wednesday

Morning, everyone.  As forecast yesterday, it's raining right now (good - no need to water) but is expected to stop by around nine this morning.  It's not warm but not chilly, thankfully. 

Yesterday was quite busy.  It started off with tuition.  No, it started off with washing and pegging out clothes.  There's so much to do, I thought I'd better get an early start!  Then it was tuition which was fun.

After that I pegged out the washing in faith (justified) and set off to pick Alex up.  We posted some parcels for Beth and then sent off to Hylands.

Hylands is basically parkland with a rather lovely while neo-classical house that one can visit on certain days and which can be hired for weddings and so on.  It's not posh, doesn't have carefully sculptured gardens like Chatsworth, but it is very pleasant for a healthy stroll and a snack or meal in the Sables Cafe.  It's a popular place locally because both dogs and children can run and run and run and there's a super adventure playground type thing.  I really must go back again very soon - I don't make use of it nearly enough.

Al and I spent a very pleasant time strolling around, chatting about this and that.  I took some photos and you can see what I mean by 'not posh'.

There was the inevitable little lake with a duck island in the middle and some very sociable duck who came swimming up hopefully as we approached.  Sadly, we had no food for them but I bet they don't go hungry!  I love the sign asking visitors not to feed them on bread.

There are some nice little pathways and resting places.  Look at the dedication on the bench - I think that's just lovely.

And some more formal bits.

This church is on my list of churches to visit!

And Alex's lunch was delicious - chicken, bacon and avocado baguette.  I was good and brought fruit with me!

http://hylandsestate.co.uk/

When I got home after dropping Alex off home, I had a surprise.  There was a box of flowers on the doormat - the kind in a box that can be posted through.  I got all excited wondering who was sending me flowers before I noticed that the address was mine but the name was not.  I didn't recognise the name at all but, as they were nonreturnable, I got them out, popped them in a vase with the 'reviving' stuff in the box and then contacted the company (the email was on the box).  It was quite important as they were a 40th birthday gift, one of a set of three monthly bouquets.  The company got back to me within the hour to let me know they had contacted the sender and would sort it out and please to enjoy the flowers.
As there was another card for the same person, separate and from someone else, I guess the wrong address has been handed around.  Such a shame for the birthday person but I shall enjoy the flowers - they are lovely.

That was the last excitement of the day.  Beth wasn't well and couldn't come round so I spent the evening ironing and totally forgot about watching Bake Off so I have that pleasure this evening.

Today's a quiet day.  Tuition first thing, then I intend to go swimming.  After that it's more washing and ironing and Bake-Off catch-up.  And, more than likely, a snooze late afternoon!

Tuesday

Good morning, everyone.

I received some sad news yesterday.  My Aunty Joyce (Mum's older sister and who I am named after) died yesterday morning.  She had been very poorly.
I haven't seen Aunty Joyce for years as she was a 'GI bride' and has always lived in the States since her marriage, coming back only once or twice in all that time.  However, she and I chatted on Facebook (good old Facebook) and I am very saddened at her passing.

Cheering up somewhat, yesterday was a pleasant day otherwise.  I popped to Sainsbury's when it opened and treated my car to a good wash at the same time.  I felt quite posh driving home as it gleamed for the first time in months.  Ah well, I reckon the dust protected the paintwork!

After lunch I went over to Beth's and we sorted some stuff out.  She had done the painting so we tidied up some stuff and I came home with some washing!

The evening was spent working through the box set of the DS9 programmes my son lent me while I cleared my ironing basket in preparation for Beth's ironing!  I'm making slow progress through these sets.  I've done Next Gen so they could be returned.  I'm about three quarters of the way through DS9 and I still have Voyager to watch.  I haven't even taken the wrapping off the Poirot set I treated myself to but I will take that on holiday with me next month.

Today I have tuition first thing and then Al is coming over and we really hope we will get to Hylands - after all, third time lucky.  The forecast is for dry, dull weather which sounds OK to me.  Then Beth is coming for dinner after work.

I should sleep well tonight!

Monday

Good morning.  After yesterday's dullness and rain, this morning is much brighter and the sun might even come out, fingers crossed.  Yesterday was dire for humans but great for ducks and allotments!

First of all, Margaret, I had 'problems' (not really a problem but I can't think of the right word) leaving a comment on your blog.  When I started the comment it showed it was being made by Alison Prewett so I needed to change it to my name, email and blog.  I'm not sure why.  Sorry.

After a bit of an internal struggle yesterday, I pootled off the the gym for an early swim.  Yes, the Gossip Gang (they are really nice, it's just what I call them) was there but not in great numbers so there was plenty of room for all.  A lovely swim and after the GG got out, an almost empty pool.  I'm glad I went.

When I got home, I mowed my front patch that had gone from desert to jungle.  It always amazes me how grass can pick up do quickly after a drought.  Then I tempted fate by hanging out some washing and half an hour later had to rush out and bring it in again!  Oh, well, worth a try.

I spent the rest of the day in idle sloth, watching telly, making bread, cooking meals, etc, and very nice it was too.  I even managed to tidy the kitchen afterwards.

I'm not going swimming today.  It's bank holiday and is likely to be crowded.  I will get my exercise from a brisk walk around Sainsbury's getting some stuff that Morrisons doesn't do.  After lunch I'm off to Beth's as I have promised her I will help her with some decorating.  This bank holiday never has meant all that much as it's in the school summer holidays so it's easy to forget and today feels like Sunday as Beth is home.

So that's today.  It should be pleasant and I hope your day is just as good.

Sunday

Good morning, everyone.  We're back to dull mornings again today and we had more rain last night.  More rain is forecast for this afternoon too so it's just as well we did allotment stuff yesterday.

It was another good day!  Alex stayed the morning and I took him home just before lunch time.  At three I met up with Beth at the allotment and we mowed, uprooted, weeded, cleared and harvested.  The mange tout are gone now - they've been a big disappointment this year but we'll probably give them another go next year and choose the seeds carefully.  Perhaps it was the dry weather - it was hard to give such an expanse enough water by watering can but it could just have been that they didn't like the heat.
Anyway, we picked baby corn (nearly over now), runner beans (doing better there than in my garden), courgettes and tomatoes.  We shared the corn and Beth had the rest as I have tomatoes and runners at home.  There were six raspberries so we shared them and ate them there and then.  Then we had a go at the apple tree.  Lift each apple and if it is ripe it will come off with a very gentle tug/slight twist.  We both took some home!  The pears (I've discovered that they are Williams pears) are not ready yet, neither are the redloves.

It was nice to get some of the weeds cleared - it was beginning to look a bit tatty.  There's more to do but we have broken the back of it for the moment and from the path it looks lovely again.  We just don't look too closely at the potatoes which are riddled with weeds.  :-)

Today I shall be going swimming in less than an hour and then the day's my own.  Nothing in the diary.  I'm feeling quite weary so will take things easy.  I shall turn some tomatoes into passata for the freezer (great for winter soups) and I might make some bread.  I haven't made bread for ages as I eat very little nowadays, mainly because the liver shrinking/happy gallbladder eating didn't really lend itself to much in the bread line.  I think I'll make one loaf and the rest will be rolls.  That will do nicely.

Have a very pleasant day, everyone, whatever the weather!

Saturday

Good morning, everyone.  It feels very autumnal again at the moment with a real nip in the air.  In fact, yesterday evening the heating clicked on and I didn't turn it off again.  It doesn't quite smell autumny yet - you know, that slightly smoky, misty scent in the air at the beginning and end of the day - but it can't be far behind.

Yesterday turned out nice.  the sun shone and it was warm but not baking.  I went swimming and enjoyed it very much after which I prepped for Al's visit.  I think he enjoyed the pizza; there was none left anyway and precious little of the salad and the potato salad that he had requested,  He rather decimated (and more) the fruit salad too.

Today I will take Al home and then the morning is mine until I meet up with Beth at the allotment, weather permitting.  The grass needs a good cut there but might be too wet as it pelted it down yesterday evening.  The weeds won't take too much effort though as the ground is damp and we need to get up the mange tout which have been a dismal failure this year, sadly.

I have SW recipe books to browse through after allotment and will probably fall asleep over them.  :-)

That's about it for today.  A lazy day mostly.  I won't go swimming as it's often crowded on Saturday but I will pop down for opening at eight tomorrow.  I know the gossip gang will be there but I can swim round them!