Thursday, 24-09-26

Morning, all.

After 'eeeking' at all the tomatoes yesterday, I set to and processed all the older ones into my version of passata.  I threw the lot into Thermione, added a splash of water, cooked them for 15 mins, gave them a good blend. pushed the lot through my mouli to catch any remain seeds (there were some) and then reduced it all down a bit on the hob.
The house smelled wonderful and the freezer groaned!

I've been liaising with Alex over Beth's birthday (next month) and Christmas presents and we had a bit of a Messenger chat about things.  I do like organising gifts, it is such fun.  I'd already ordered stuff from Temu and from Amazon and Alex choose what he would like to give.  I'm happy to give what he didn't choose as it's all nice.  We're meeting up next week to do some more gift shopping and, if time permits, have lunch together.  That will be lovely!  

I'm expecting the Amazon stuff to arrive today and I'm looking forward to tucking it all away with the other Christmas things.

I'm ploughing my way through KCSIE.  Honestly, it's a bit ridiculous.  Over a hundred (edit - two pages short of two hundred!) pages of solid stuff and everyone in education is required to read it - us (volunteer!!) Governors have to do it once a year; if we don't all sign something to say we have read it, it can trigger an OFSTED fail.
I never remember more than a little bit of it.  Don't get me wrong. it is a very, very important document, but . . .  < sigh >
I'll do a bit more this afternoon.

Today is busy - at least this morning is.  I have personal training at 8:15 so I need to leave just before eight.  When I get home, it is a quick freshen up and change before Chris comes over for our chat.  Then it's Kay, who had to reschedule from Monday.  Not that the last is 'busy', as such but I feel guilty about someone else working when I'm not and my bedroom needs some attention so - there you go!

Better get going, I guess.  At least this afternoon will be nice and relaxing (fingers crossed).

Take care, stay well and be happy.  xx

Wednesday, 23-09-26: just another day!

Morning, all.  Yesterday started off quite gloomy but brightened up beautifully a bit later on,  before clouding over again.  The evenings are definitely getting chilly though.  I'm eyeing up my crocheted blankets!  😉

Chris and I drove to Groove.  I'm finding that the classes I am going to are not comfortable for my knee but afterwards it feels a lot better, so that's great.  Groove was fun, Lindsey was in top form and there were lots of laughs.

I decided I ought to be a responsible governor and get my Safeguarding update training done so that's now all ticked off and recorded.  I also started ploughing my way through Keeping Children Safe In Education which is compulsory reading.  There's a lot of changes this year and it is a mega huge thing so I will take it slowly.

If I can get it finished today, I can sign to say I've done it and my conscience is clear.  I won't remember it, of course I won't, but I will have done the necessary.

There's nothing in the diary today so I think I will tackle some of the autumn gardening.  Not the tomatoes - they are still giving generously - but the cucumbers are over and the rhubarb is dying back.  Next year I can pull some and enjoy it but this year it will feed either the green bin or my compost..

I've just been out to pick tomatoes.  I didn't pick yesterday but even so, eeeek!!!  And I haven't shown you what I already have and not used . . .

More passata to make today.  Frozen in those silicon lego blockthings, they take up the least amount of room and I will use them through the winter and spring.

And some to give away too, definitely!  Chris, Tracy next door, Beth and Alex . . .

Finally, I have a very short shopping list so I'm going to pootle off to Morrisons at some point.

Have a good say, everyone.  Enjoy the last dregs of summer while it lasts.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Tuesday, 22-09-26: Spain outings

Our stay in Spain wasn't in anyway a touristy experience.  A lot of what we did was at the Mill - social, fitness related, short walks, etc - but there were a few outings.

The first one I didn't go on, partly because Diane wasn't going, partly because neither of us is good with long walks on uneven surfaces and partly because my knee hurt.  However, the others said it was really lovely.  I can't find anything specific about it on Google and only know it is the Enchanted Forest, of which there are loads.

On Wednesday we went to the spa at Cela.

https://www.visit-andalucia.com/balsa-de-cela-roman-baths/

It's a natural springs lido with green space to chill and eating places nearby.

The 'grass' was artificial but lovely and soft and the trees kept it shady and cool.

The actual pool was huge with a stony bottom.  I didn't go in but someone said it was quite warm but quite slippery underfoot.

In the morning, there was a group of youngsters having what looked like a boating lesson and they were having a wonderful time.

It was just a lovely, family oriented place with everyone chilling and enjoying the vibe.

Just another view of the grass.

This was the night of the Big Storm.  Sorry I have no videos - I thought I had saves some but no.  It was, I gather, very dramatic.  I slept through it!

After some more rain last week, Lindsey posted a video she was sent of the rambla where we were supposed to - er - ramble the next day.  The guide cancelled as she said it would be dangerous after the rain - and you can see why, can't you?  

The following day, we were supposed to visit a local planetarium that Lindsey said was really good.  However, the owner and guide was unwell so it was cancelled so instead we went to Baza where they had post fiesta celebrations.

In random order - a model railway to celebrate the opening of a local line fifty (I think) years ago.

A food and drink area that was absolutely packed with youngsters and families having an amazing time.  Not rowdy, not in any way intimidating, just lively and happy.

A really good big wheel that cost four euros for a long ride.  Yes, I did.  

Proof!!

Lots of bright lights.

Restaurants under canvas.

This stall sold shots of Madeira.  Yes, we did.  It was lovely.

This was such a good evening.

On the last evening we went to Seron.

https://www.andalucia.com/province/almeria/seron/home.htm

There's a lot of interesting info about Seron here - well worth a read.

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/remarkable/9115/seron-what-a-beautiful-town-.aspx

This is the view from Seron, right across the Almanzora valley to the mountains the other side.  To get there we went through marble quarries and desert areas, very dramatic.

We went up to the Castle to catch the views.  I found it hard going because of my knee but it was well worth it.

Diane and I didn't do the last bit to the very top . . . 

But the others did and there we are!!

After that we wandered through cobbled paths that were quite scary to negotiate with a wonky knee, past Spanish homes . . . 

And rather more modern things until we found the restaurant and that was the last trip.  We went home the next day.

I'm glad I'm going back again.  As I said, it wasn't a touristy finding-things-out kind of holiday but I felt we got a little taste of Spanish life even so.

Seron was particularly lovely  and well worth another visit.

So that's my Spanish holiday.  I was tired when I got home but, at the same time, felt rejuvenated and energised.  It was lovely, well worth it.  xx

Monday, 20-09-26

    Morning, all.  No more Spain yet, sorry, but I did get quite a lot done yesterday - washing, ironing, housework and a big old freezer tidy up.

And I ate The Pear.  The single pear from my pear tree.  And it was delicious.  Looking forward to next year now, fingers crossed.

Today starts, as always, with circuits and then, fingers crossed, Kay is coming.  It's not been a great summer for housework help for various reasons but, hopefully, tomorrow will work.

And that's about it - it is a quiet life at the moment.  xx

Sunday, 20-09-26

Morning, all.  We're into the last third of September now and aren't the days getting shorter now!  And cooler mornings and evenings too; it's so nice to snuggle under the covers in bed now - very cosy.

Sorry, I haven't done the Spain blog yet.  Maybe today, I'll see.

What I do have is a downstairs to tidy (it's a right mess) and ironing to get finished.  I'll start with that, I think, and get it done.
Then I need to sort out the freezer again - it's bursting at the seams and needs some reorganising.
And bread to make.

Better got going, hadn't I?  

xx

Saturday, 19-09-26

Morning, everyone.  Welcome to Saturday's blog.

We had the best time at Aqua Springs yesterday - in an understated way.  We didn't have any packages or treatments although there's plenty on offer, we just went for the joy of relaxing  in warm bubbles, steam rooms, saunas, etc.  Beth had had a stressful couple of weeks - nothing bad, just things ramping up temporarily - and she very much needed some chilled time.
We chatted, soaked, relaxed, had a nice lunch of cheesy jacket potato and salad, coffee before we left and it was just lovely!

I got a bit of a shock when I drew my curtains back this morning.

This is the view across my garden, back of next door's house to the right, corner of garden room, the dividing fence and two trees which are outside my neighbours' boundary on the other side.  So there's trees on a small slope, a road and the countryside.
Yesterday morning the view was of solid leaves from side to side, meeting in the middle and cutting down significantly on my neighbours' light and a bit on mine too (but not that bad).
As they are on council land, they're not GT and T's responsibility but they were not only greatly impacting on light but also there were branches dangerously close to the corner of their house.

Obviously, yesterday, it was their turn for the chop!  I didn't notice yesterday because I didn't look out when I got home.

Poor trees - what a massacre!  However, they will recover in a few years.  It's happened before and five years later you would never have known.  In the meanwhile, we will enjoy the extra light and an enhanced country view.
And there won't be any leaves to sweep up this autumn!

There's absolutely nothing in the diary over this week.  I have the usual stuff - bread to make, washing, drying and ironing, meal planning, etc, but I've started off with a cafetiere of good coffee rather than just a mug and I'm going to chill.
Later on, I will work on the last bit of the Spain recount but that will be fun to remember.  It'll probably go up tomorrow.

Hoping you have a lovely weekend too.  xx

Friday, 18-09-26

Morning.  It feels chilly this morning but the sun is almost shining so fingers crossed.

Another quick one because it's nearly time to leave for Slimming World and I'm leaving early because Beth has a day off and we are going to Aqua Springs in Colchester for a spa day.  No treatments, just lots of swimming/soaking in bubbles, sauna, etc and a lunch there.
And lots and lots of catch up and chat.

I'm looking forward to it very much.  xx