Thursday, 13-08-46

Morning, one and all.  Thank you for joining me.  Apologies for yesterday - I was a bit pushed for time yesterday morning and every time I remembered I hadn't done it, I was doing something else, if you see what I mean.  So in the end I decided to wait for today!

Not that there's much to writer about, mind you.  It's been a gentle old week here.  I've houseworked, knotted, washed, dries and ironed, done a .
bit of all sorts really

In this hot weather I'm watering twice a day and that seems to be keeping the tomatoes going although some plants are showing signs of wear and tear.  Of course, it's that time of year anyway, isn't it?

I've spotted the first (that I can see) cyclamen flower.  It's very pretty and has grown from a corm Mum gave me, ages ago.  It's a slightly darker pink that it appears in this photo.
It's always a sign that autumn is approaching.  First come the flowers and, a bit later, the leaves, eventually covering the whole bed with pretty shapes during the dull months.  Come the spring, I pull them all up and up they come again in around six months' time.
It's also a reminder that I need to start clearing the bed, starting with the foxgloves that flowered this year but leaving the new plants to flower next year.  I will move some of them too, to a better place in the bed.  (no idea what's happened to the formatting here!

Earlier in the year I dug up some baby foxgloves and popped them into a planter and they seem very happy.  We will see if I get a lovely and moveable display next spring/summer!

While on the subject of garden, the tomatoes continue to be happy with just two minor issues.  
One is the ever present blossom end rot, supposedly because of lack of calcium in the soil, but only one of the types is showing it, the accidental 'Big Red' a huge plum type and I didn't mean to buy.
And the only type that is splitting is the Alicante.  That's supposed to be due to intermittent watering but I don't think that's the case as none of the others are showing signs.  Maybe it is type vulnerability?  Who know?  It's not a bit problem, thankfully!

Today, Chris is round and also Tracy, my next door neighbour, for coffee and a good old natter.  After that I'm popping round to Morrisons as I am running out of fruit which would never do.  There's always bits of housework, of course!

It's going to be very hot (for the UK) over much of England today so do take care, get some water into the fridge early, dig out the sun safety stuff and stay well.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Edit:  I looked up the splitting tomato thing and it said sudden changes in moisture, temperature fluctuations and/or soil conditions.

The RHS says:

 Although easy to grow, tomato fruits can suffer from splitting and cracking in late summer. This is difficult to prevent, as it is caused by fluctuating temperatures and water supply - which are often out of the control of the gardener.

Odd that it is only the Alicantes though.

Tuesday, 11-08-26

Good morning, everyone, and welcome.  
Isn't crazy to think that a third of August has been and gone!  Blink and Autumn will be round the corner!  Oh, my goodness!
We're now half way through the summer holiday (for schools) and, dear me, I am so glad I'm retired.  Change of PM and Education Lead in government and, obviously, more changes - even though schools haven't had the opportunity to process that last lot of changes yet.   Will they ever stop treating education as a cheap political football?  No need to answer that, we all know, don't we?

Yesterday felt very busy.  

I gave the garden, and especially the tomatoes, two good waterings (using cans, of course, I am a Good Girl) and, as mentioned, picked loads and loads of tomatoes - and a cucumber.  After some weeks of not much, the cucumbers have decided to fruit again.

I unpacked after the watering and got all that sorted.

I did two loads of washing but not the ironing.  That can wait for today.
I processed some of the tomatoes and now I have four more lots of passata - I use those silicon brick thingies and the resulting cubes take very little space.

I cleared the kitchen, made another mess making dinner for me and Alex, and cleared that.
I went to Morrisons and did some shopping.  It wasn't a big shop but what I handed over was shocking.  Needing some cash didn't help - I know it's mostly cashless nowadays but I do like to have a small amount ready to use.

Alex came round late afternoon and we had dinner after which I took him home again.

I got nibbled to death over the weekend - different area, different bugs, maybe.   The lakes (big ponds) are drying up but there's enough water in them still and I left my window open overnight!!  Oh, well, I have germoline and will apply some soon as I'm feeling mighty itchy after my bath.  No new nibbles overnight though, thankfully.

Just a few more photos - as well as the hotel and to one side of it, there's a set of  . . . I suppose 'flatlets' is the best term . . . each one containing sixteen rooms, I think. the same quality as the hotel rooms.  It's called the Village, it's alongside the gold course and just a couple of minutes walk from the hotel where guests have their meals, etc..  I've never stayed in the Village but I has a little walk up and down.

Today, being Tuesday, starts with Groove.  I can't honestly say I feel terribly enthusiastic about it and would much rather be lazy at home but I'll be glad I went afterwards, I am sure.

After that, it is more of the same.  I want to skin and freeze some more of the cherry tomatoes and I need to do a serious deadheading.

Then there's inside dust, etc, although my feeling is that that can all wait.

Right, time to stop rambling and get the day started.  Get dressed, give the tomatoes a good watering (cans only!!), do my social media stuff, empty the dishwasher . . . and then meet Chris for Groove.
Enjoy your day, everyone.  Stay cool or as cool as possible and, if you know a little rain dance, we in the south east would really appreciate it!!  
xx

Monday, 10-08-26 edited

Morning, all.  It is 11:30.  I'm home, unpacked, everything away, over a kilo of tomatoes picked and passata made, all bar sieving, one load of washing in and a coffee by my side.
It was an easy journey home - sat nav took me straight through Maldon which was unexpected but fine and home end I saw that the road I was going to take into Chelmsford was chokka - red all the way, so I went a bit round the houses to avoid the Army and Navy.  I knew where I was going so that was OK.  It probably added fifteen minutes to the projected time but I'd have been stuck for hours otherwise so no worries.

It's been a lovely weekend, a really restful time.  It was hot but there's efficient air con so it wasn't a problem.  I have eaten well but not wisely!!  Back on the straight and narrow now.

I need to go to Morrisons to get a few things and Alex is coming round late afternoon for dinner.  Apart from that, it's a slow day and I'm going to enjoy it.

I hope your day is going well so far.  All the best and stay sun-safe.  xx

Sunday, 09-08-06

Hi, everyone.  So here I am, in my comfortable room, coffee beside me, having had a lovely restful day yesterday. I did very little of what I thought I would do yesterday and am anticipating another similar day today!

Yesterday started with trip to the pop up shop to get some Rennies.  I never have indigestion but . . . well, yes!!!  I laughed though - there were three of us in a line clutching boxes of the same.  Comfort in numbers!

Basically, I did not-a-lot.  All day!
I enjoyed some quizzes, I sat out in the Garden Terrace, coffee in hand, read, chatted, drank my coffee, went in for a quiz, had a stroll around, bought my bingo tickets (I changed my mind) and in the afternoon enjoyed a whole series of 'Wild West Inspired' fun.  Mind you - Essex people trying to sound American has to be heard to be believed!!

The garden Terrace looking towards the stage . . .

And the other way . . .

It was hot but there was a really refreshing breeze blowing so it didn't feel uncomfortable.

I had hoped to watch the show but when I went up to my room after dinner I realised that the only thing I wanted to do was relax, read and have an early night - so that's what I did.
Because I am on holiday!!  :-)

On to today and I'm going to do similar.  There's quizzes, bingo, some 'entertainments' - silly games, mostly, fun to watch and undemanding.  I will just see how the day pans out.
At some point I will need to think about packing as I hate leaving it all until the last moment.  It won't take long, it just needs to be done, that's all.

It's all very self indulgent and tomorrow I will need to descend back to reality but for now - all's pleasant in my world!

Hope you are having a pleasant weekend too.  xx

Saturday, 08-08-26

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to my first morning at Potters, Five Lakes - although, to be fair, maybe it should be called Five Rapidly Disappearing Ponds right now!

The drive over was good - a bit busy, I guess, but it's not tricky, the worst bit is Maldon/Heybridge and even then, as long as you know the road names, it's fine.

I arrived just in time for lunch which was an optional extra but, as I had early arrival, if was worth it.  I had a very nice chicken Caesar salad (perfect amount, not too big as they usually are, and plenty of chicken) followed by lemon cheesecake (naughty but nice).

Then I was able to access my room.

It's really very nice.  

The room looking one way . . .

. . . and the other.

A very nice bathroom . . .

. . . and a big, walk-in shower, too big to get it all in one photo.

As you can see, the colour scheme is neutral and restful.

There's a very pleasant view from the large picture window although that puddle is usually twice the size and depth.  No balcony but I can turn the chair round to face the outside if I want.

So, I unpacked, made everything cosy and had a bit of a chill with a book before wandering to the Lake View Lounge which is pretty close to my bedroom . . . 

. . . and had The First Drink.  😊
It's become a bit of a tradition to have my favourite 'cocktail', a prosecco and campari, to start a Potters weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed it before moving on to coffee.

I had the coffee in the Garden Bar which is where some of the action happens although, in this weather, a lot of the entertainment has moved to the Garden Terrace which is new since I was last here and which I need to locate.

And so the afternoon and evening passed.

Dinner was lovely.  Potters doesn't do high cuisine but it has good, well cooked wholesome fare and the pate, roast pork with vegetables and mango sorbet, washed down with a glass of pinto grigio was lovely.

I went to the theatre for some singing and a quiz but I felt myself fading out so didn't stay for the show which was a shame but I was very weary.  I'd like to say I slept like a log but - you know, first night in a different bed.  I can take plenty of down time if I need it today.

So, on to today.  At some point I would like to go to the spa for a swim and there's all sorts of stuff on offer.  Taiso (Japanese inspired movement), some craft, yoga for beginners, Dancercise, a keypad quiz, some live music and so much more - and that's just the morning.

Obviously, I can't do it all so I will have to make choices.  I'd love to do the dancercise and there's salsa and cha cha in the afternoon.  I brought some fitness wear with me, thankfully.

And do I want to do Bingo?  Maybe tomorrow?  I don't know.  This is where if I were with a friend, I'm sure we would do it together.

The evening show is a cabaret so that should be very pleasant indeed.  If I'm still awake by then.  😉

Well, time to have a shower and get going.  It's early but I don't want to rush at any point.  Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Friday, 07-08-26

Morning, all.  Just a very quick one because there's plenty to do to be ready to leave after Slimming World.   I'm taking my laptop, etc, with me so I'll be posting as usual.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Thursday, 06-08-26

Good morning, everyone.  There's not an awful lot to say today as life is very slow and gentle at the moment.

This is today's tomato task - to skin and chop and freeze these - mostly Romas with a few Shirleys and one Big Red!  They're all large so I should get several portions, not to mention the skins to dehydrate.

(I have the first skins in the air fryer as I type so we will see.)

Apart from that, there's coffee and chat at Chris' first thing, I have washing, etc,  to do and I want to pretty much pack for the weekend as I would like to load up and leave after SW tomorrow morning.

And that's about it . . . so have a lovely day, everyone.  See you tomorrow!  xx