07-06-25 (edited)

(edited because I sorted out what was wrong with Photoshop_ 

Good morning, everyone!  It's Saturday morning at Five Lakes and it's very cloudy after a beautiful day yesterday and rain overnight.

I had a really good drive over after Slimming World.  Not too much traffic and didn't take the wrong turning once!  I'd got earlier access so was able to go straight to my room, unpack and get settled.

I have a lovely view from my bedroom window but can't post any photos because something seems to have reset on Photoshop and when I crop it goes all tiny and if I enlarge, it's blurred.  I'll take a look at it later, when I'm feeling more awake.

Edited bit:

The view from my window, over the golf course.  

Then, inside . . .

A really nice shower, roomy and powerful.  Showering after my swim was blissful!

The other bit of the bathroom - the basin has a motion activated light in front, brilliant when needing the loo in the night.

A bit dark but the bedroom area. 

One way . . .

. . . and the other!

After settling in, I had a lovely swim in the almost empty pool before showering and chilling in the Garden Bar.
Dinner was lovely, really delicious, and afterwards I relaxed and decided to get an early night rather than go to the show which I'd already seen anyway, when I went with Lindsey's group.

I took some photos of dinner but will save them for a separate post, I think - if I remember to continue taking them!

Chris sent me this photo when they cut that loaf.  I am very pleased with that.  No, it's not holey like white sourdough but it's mostly wholemeal so wouldn't really be.

(end of edit)

Today, there's so much to do.
I want to swim and, weather permitting, go for a stroll around the grounds.  There's quizzes going on all the time, there's a craft session decorating canvass bags, I'm not terribly interested in the yoga but I would like to do the dancercise.

In the afternoon there's another craft session but also a jazz dance class (no idea what that is) at the same time - I'll maybe do the craft and go to the salsa and cha cha session later.  I don't fancy doing the bingo - it's fin in a group but not so much on your own.
I could perhaps have another swim this afternoon - I should have brought two costumes with me really!

So - plenty to do, no chance of being bored in any way.

I'll just finish my coffee and chill before the pool opens, I think.  
Have a lovely Saturday.  xx

06-06-25

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Friday.  The forecast here, after a damp and soggy yesterday, isn't inspiring but over Maldon way it looks much more hopeful so fingers crossed.

Oh, yes.  I was proud to give this to Chris.  My best yet, I think.

Mostly wholemeal but I had to add some white because I ran out of wholemeal and I'm really pleased with the oven-spring - perfect!
I think I have found one of my ongoing recipes by accident.

While I was chatting with Chris, she said that, after living in Germany in past years, she and Steve love rye bread.  One of the recipes I came home with is rye bread so guess what my next try out will be.

As expected, Groove was in Lindsey's studio rather than in the garden as it was damp and drizzly but not to worry.  It was still good.

I now have the trellis blanket pattern, have packed what I need, located the YouTube video and am looking forward to starting it off while I'm away.  First thing in the morning, before falling asleep, those sorts of times.  I doubt I will get much done but we will see.

I'm pretty much ready to go.  I have to make sandwiches for lunch (I'm not paying nearly £20 for a two course meal) and just sort out a few more bits and bobs - techy stuff, for a start, do my bit at Slimming World (leaving early), load the car and off I go.  I can book in at eleven and have access to my room at twelve.  Once in and sorted, I plan to go for a swim first (assuming the pool is open and it should be) and then just chill, plan the weekend's stuff and just relax.  Bliss.

My lovely neighbours are looking after the garden for me although, looking at the forecast for the weekend, they might not be needed.  I have always liked to ask children living in the cul de sac (well, their parents really) if they could water for some holiday money and they've always done a good job.  

So - better go and finish things off before SW.  Have a lovely day and thank you all for your lovely, supportive comments on yesterday's post.  They were very helpful and made a difference.

See you tomorrow, maybe with photos!!

Cheers.  xx

05-06-25 - feeling a right prune!

Morning, all.  It's Thursday and I have pretty much all day at home.  I still feel remarkably foolish about my date slip up but there you go - there is a silver lining in that I have plenty of time and don't feel rushed.  That has to be a good thing.  Hopefully, the trip will come up again at some point.

Yesterday's weather was lovely - until it wasn't.  It started feeling very sticky and humid but we didn't have any storm, just rain that refreshed the air and got me out of watering the garden.   We've obviously had more rain overnight so everything looks clean and happy.  Apart from one of the cucumbers which looks as if its roots have been chomped to death - that 'collapse', you know.  Ho hum - let's hope the other two are OK.

I made my loaf and gave it to Lindsey when I went for personal training.  She reported that it was delicious, a bit more dense than the first one but lovely.  As you add more wholemeal flour, they do become more dense - 100% rye is positively dense - but still with that sourdough tang that makes it so different to yeasted bread.
I now have a wholemeal on mixed and almost ready for its first stretch and fold - that's for Chris and should be baked this afternoon.  I've run out of wholemeal so had to use some white as well - we will see.

So - today is all about getting ready in between stuff like coffee with Chris (I hope, assuming her back isn't causing her too much pain), accessing the Trellis Blanket pattern and fighting off the urge to start it, making that bread and going to Groove at Lindsey's

I've been feeling very 'down' and lethargic all week but today it has lifted and I have more energy again, thank goodness.  Maybe it was the weather and it has certainly helped that I've now had two good nights' sleep in a row.  Trying to stay positive also helps, even when it feels too much trouble to do so.

Do you get those times?  How do you deal with them?

Anyway, better go - something needs a stretch and fold!  :-)  Have the best day, everyone.  xx

04-06-25

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to a lovely, sunny Wednesday morning.  I've just been around the garden so let's start off with some colour.

The chilli pepper - such a pretty little flower.

One of the planters

One of the hanging baskets.

One of the dahlias

One of the stocks.

In other garden news, one of the cucumbers looks to be dying.  Sad.

And none - NONE - of the runner beans has germinated so I have resown the lot.  I have no idea why - there are tomatoes and the chilli in the same bed and they are all thriving and happy.

That's garden life!

Yesterday was a pleasantly unexciting day.  I drove to Groove and I'm glad I did because by the time it finished, it was raining.

I got on with making a sourdough loaf and it definitely rose better in the oven.  Not the best shape in the world but it rose OK.  That's what I was after.

Today is another homey day until personal training this afternoon.  The main thing I need to do is pack for Friday because tomorrow I'm out all day.
I've refreshed my memory of the way to Five Lakes but the Garmin seems to be working OK again so that's a relief.

And thank you, Ernie.  As I said, I have moved the winnings into my normal account to cover the extra garden spend.  Excellent.

Have a great day, all.  There won't be a post tomorrow as I will be out all day but I'm taking the laptop to Five Lakes so should be able to post from there.
See you on Friday.  xx

Edit:

I've just realised I've made the most awful goof up.  I thought the Tut/Shard trip was tomorrow but it's not, it's Friday - and I am off to Five Lakes on Friday.
I am totally gutted but my own fault.  Maybe someone can use my place - I've let the organisers know.

So there will be a message tomorrow after all.  

03-06-25

Morning, everyone.  The day has started fine but rain is predicted and the egg chair has its cover back on again, just in case it starts while I am at Groove.

I've had two rather rough nights in a row - my brain is overactive and I'm finding it hard to switch off.  Most unusual for me and I hope I sleep better tonight and tomorrow night or I will be sleeping my way through the trip to London on Thursday.

I know you have been waiting with bated breath for this.

Here it is - the annual photo of The First Tomato.  Can you see it?

It is one of the Tumbling Toms, of course - early come and early go - and I had problems getting the camera to focus on it.  :-)

Lindsey did circuits in her garden yesterday morning.  It was perfect - not too warm but not at all chilly.  I was a bit late though.

On the journey home Sunday evening, the tyre warning came on.  Not the 'Sudden Decompression, stop as soon as you can do so safely' warning, the 'Don't you think it's about time you checked your pressure again?' one.

Obviously, I couldn't check them when I got home, the tyres were too warm, and I forgot later.  So when I started up the car to go to circuits, on came the warning again (It doesn't give up).  It doesn't take long but I had to then wash my hands and fire off a message saying 'don't wait for me' to Lindsey.

Later on, I took Beth's share of the sourdough loaves over, all sliced and bagged and ready for the freezer.

Lindsey said she would love me to make her some more so that's what I am doing tomorrow so it can be ready to take with me to personal training.  She gives me so much in terms of extra fitness stuff that a few loaves don't really repay but it's not about value, it is about kindness so that's OK.

I started a loaf to Andrew's recipe yesterday, activating the starter and then making the leaven.  It's an extra step from Elaine's way and I need to check totals of flour, water, etc to see how much difference there actually is.  And I also need to use Elaine's way without over fermenting and see if that gives a better oven-rise as well.  So many variables!

Anyway, today's loaf, assuming it is a success, is for Chris.  I know she likes sourdough and she has done some damage to her back so it will be a get well soon gift.

After Groove today, it is going to be housework and baking.  Quite a nice mixture really.  It should be a good day and I hope yours is too.  xx

02-06-25

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to Monday, the first day of a new week and, depending on which date you go by, the start of summer.  It looks like it too - the sun is rising and the sky is blue - for the moment, anyway.

Going back to Saturday, the four of us had a really lovely lunch together at Fowler's Farm, in Braintree.  I didn't get home until nearly five because I diverted on the way home to drop some fold up garden chairs with Beth and Alex.

Yesterday's sourdough course was amazing.  My usual Garmin satnav was on the blink (sound but no picture so I guess I have to get another one) so I used the car one - less reliable - which took me through country roads and housing estates.  It got me there with plenty of time to spare so that was OK.

The venue was the Knead and Desire shop/bakery.  There's the sales counter . . . 

The baking area . . .

And the coffee machine (excellent coffee).

So each day the shop sells coffee,  home made soup and he had made carrot and coriander soup for the course lunch.

Plus whatever sourdough loaves they are making that week and various semi-sourdough pastries.

I gather the place sells out very quickly!

There's also a little eating area, nothing special, just a table and a few chairs.

Not a great photos but this is Andrew, the shop owner and course tutor.  He is absolutely passionate about what he does and a thoroughly nice chap, very down to earth, not the least bit high-brow in his approach and generous in sharing his knowledge and experience.

There were six of us.  One younger man, two older men around my age, a lady and her teenage son who wanted to become a chef/baker of some kind - and me.

We were welcomes in with coffee and pastries - the most amazing pastries, all made by Andrew and semi-sourdough.  He uses a bit of yeast to help with the rise/lamination.

Oh, they were amazing and so very more-ish.  Just look at the lamination on that croissant . . . 

. . . and on the choc chip one I brought home.

Eat your heart out, Paul Hollywood!!

There was also a selection of breads to have with the soup - the cheese and chorizo was so good and I'm having a go at something similar at some point and also try cheese and olive so Beth can have some.  Or cheese and sundried tomatoes - and I also wonder what cheese and chopped cornichons would be like.

I could make some rolls with different insides, couldn't I?

Anyway, back to the course.
We polished off all of that and then the refill as well.

I came home with three loaves.

At the back there's a 100% dark rye with seeds, to the right is a 100% wholemeal and molasses and to the left is one I didn't make.  We practised scoring on dough that was ready for the oven before he baked them.

We did also make our own 'table loaf' as he calls it.  Not completely white but more white that wholemeal.  He doesn't make 100% white loaves.

We took that last home unbaked.  Andrew suggested that it go in the fridge to bake today but by the time I got home it had risen so much that I decided to bake it there and then.  No photo though.

I also came back with a lame, a scraper and an oval banneton; I have a round one so oval was just perfect, and some of his rye starter.  Bubbles is a 100% rye so I earlier this morning I put the two together - no point having two starters exactly the same.  

He uses his rye starter for everything, it is the only starter in the place.

An easy journey home.  I decided to go the longer, known, way round, using the satnav to get to Letchworth and then taking the way I always drove when going to Mum and Dad's.
It was a very bitter-sweet journey - so many memories surfacing as I made my way home.

I was all breaded out yesterday evening.  Not uncomfortable, this is sourdough after all  but very full of good stuff.

And I learned so much.

Andrew reckons I am correct in thinking that I over ferment my dough and that's why I don't get much oven-rise.  Also, he does a step I haven't used so far, which is making a leaven.  It's not essential but he thinks it gives a better rise and more consistency.

So I have fed Bubbles (and Squeak because why not) and this evening I plan to make a leaven with Bubbles, ready for making a loaf after Groove class tomorrow - or, maybe, some different flavoured cheese rolls.  Fingers crossed . . .

Not that I need any more bread right now.  I've sliced everything and more than half of it is going over to Beth's later this morning, but I want to practise.  My lot is in the freezer.
Maybe Chris would like a loaf - or Lindsey?   Beth will want more next week, I know.  As for me - I have enough.

So there you are.  It was a fab day and I am so happy to have gone and so lucky to have learned so much.  Now I have three normal days before jollification starts again.  Woo hoo!!

Just to say . . .

 . . . there won't be a post tomorrow (Sunday) but I'll be back Monday.

Thanks, everyone.  x