05-04-25, a bit of a garden tour and a bit of luck.

Morning all - it's Saturday and the start of the school Easter holidays - well, I suppose you could argue that really it is Monday, but I bet that sense of freedom is already bouncing around.  Two weeks until the Easter weekend - it really is very late this year - and then one week (I think) until the bank holiday weekend and four weeks after that it is half term again.    By then, my tomatoes will have started growing, maybe a few will be flowering . . . I can't wait!

I've just gone out to take a few photos:

The mints are coming up well again.  I'll give them another year and then I think they will need repotting with fresh soil.

The sage has been looking dreadfully scruffy and unwell but it picking up nicely in the warmer weather,  That's good.

The other herbs are doing fine too - the bay and rosemary thrive on neglect, I have to ruthlessly curb the oregano every autumn and the chives are coming up - potato salad ahoy!!

The thyme is looking very, very woody and I think I will replace it - it just doesn't look that good really.

This is the nicest part of the fig, which is two longish stems, one straight up and the other at an angle, with baby leaves at the top.  I am hoping that there will be growth further down as it really is most unattractive as it is.

I wonder about pruning it back to the lowest leafy thingy in the autumn and seeing if that encourages side growth.  Anyone reading this who knows - please advise . . .

The clematis is doing the usual thing, even though I forgot to cut it back at the right time.  I'll remember next Spring but this time I didn't have the heart to cut off all that lovely growth although there were some dead stems that I managed to trim.  Will the flowers be more/less/better/worse?  Watch this space.  

The lupin - and, yes, those are slug pellets, sorry.  The lupin in the pot had been nibbled to death when I looked this week so out came the pellets.  Hopefully it will recover - fingers crossed.

And finally - up come the raspberry canes again.  They are autumn fruiting so fruit on this year's growth, not last year's.  They were not great last year so I have planted some new canes.  It was a bit late so fingers crossed they will send up some new shoots too.

OK, yesterday - lovely warm, sunny weather after a bit of a misty start, a two load drying afternoon.  

SW was great and I am now back in my happy zone after losing two pounds.  

I did was I hopefully called a 'small shop' - ooops.  Oh well.

What I didn't do was plant out the pansies so that's on the weekend list.

I did feed Bubbles and Squeak so now have discard to use at some point.  This was with a view to having a go at hot cross buns today but I'm not sure it will fit in with some last minute plans - I need to re-read the recipe to decide.  Maybe tomorrow . . .

I glanced rather casually over what was coming up at the Civic Theatre in town and saw that one of the shows I was interested in but had shown as 'sold out' now had a 'limited availability' tag so I clicked on and there was one seat - just one - left in a really good position so I grabbed it!

It's the Saturday after my birthday so I'm calling it a birthday present to myself and here's some bumph I have copied. 

Celebrate the most beloved musicals of all time

In this spellbinding night of music celebrating the most beloved musicals of all time, The Phantoms take us on a magical journey through iconic shows such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera.

Featuring former Phantoms direct from the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera alongside West End and TV star Lee Mead, the sensational cast take you on a journey through the best of the West End, Broadway, and beyond from modern day smash hits to unbeatable classics.

Plus, discover how Lee Mead went from the dressing rooms of Phantom to the living rooms of the nation on his way to winning BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.

With beautiful vocal arrangements, spectacular close part harmony as well as stand out solo performances you certainly won’t want to miss the music of THIS night!

Disclaimer – The Phantoms starring Lee Mead is in no way connected with and/or endorsed by Really Useful Group or Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Do you remember the programme 'Any Dream Will Do' when the prize was the lead role in the new 'Joseph' in London?  I absolutely loved it and voted for Lee week after week.
I am really excited to be going to this, parking isn't a problem in the evening if you allow plenty of time and I'm so glad I decided to take a random look . . .

I seem to have rambled on far too long so it's time to stop - I need another lemon water anyway and I think I will add a bit of mint too.  :-)

Bye, all, and have a great day.  xx

04-04-25

Hi, everyone.  So Friday rolls round again and hasn't the weather been amazing this week.  Not so warm at times but the sunshine . . . fantastic.

I did indeed go shopping yesterday and I did spend.  However, it wasn't an awful spend, it was things that were needed or which will be used quite a lot.

I went into Matalan and there were some really pretty dresses and skirts.  I tried things on and, sadly, the dresses were just too short.  Not mini, knee length, but that's not my length, not with short legs.  I like a high waist and calf length hem - they had the high waist but there was no way they could be lengthened so they went back on the rail.  However, I did buy this skirt, white spots and longer on me, size 10 (yay) and I have tops that will go with it.

Next week, I have to go into town for my sight and hearing checks so I can look in M&S, Matalan, H&M, Primark, Quadrant, etc.  If I have time, I might look at John Lewis, just for fun - I doubt any of their dresses will fit into my budget but you never know.

And there's Tu as well.

I just hope knee length isn't the new black.

I also got a new black back pack handbag, the zip having broken on my current one, sadly.  It was cheap!

I went into HomeSense and saw these beautiful bowls, very reasonable, and I just fell for them.  They are actually shades of green, the sunshine makes them look white.

I'm going to love using them.

And this notebook jumped into my trolley.  Yes, it did.
I'm a sucker for a nice notebook and this has everything - lined pages, thick gold foiling, on a Klimt-esque cover and cheap for a hard back - £3.60.

Finally, I had time to go into Home Bargains where I bought easy peelers and a bag - not a handbag, more a small sports bag - and . . .

. . . a tray of bedding pansies - so pretty and twenty for £2.99.  Can't leave them there for that as the saying goes.

None of my purchases will be wasted.

When I got home, the postman was delivering and, lo and behold, brought my new driving licence.  I only applied Sunday evening so that's pretty good going, isn't it?

After a late lunch using one of my new bowls - I swear food tastes better out of nice china - I changed and drove over to Lindsey's for Groove.  It was out in her garden and it was absolutely lovely and not nearly as much a challenge as it was on Tuesday - same routines but I just found it easier.  That made me happy.

And finally I got my chat with Chris after all - I went over around four at her invite and we had a great old chat.  Lovely.

On to today and it's Friday so it must be Slimming World.  That's all there is in the diary so I plan to spend some time in the garden, planting out the pansies, weeding, scraping and, when that's all done and assuming it is warm enough, I will snuggle in the egg chair and read.
Doesn't that sound lovely!  xx

03-04-25

Morning, everyone.  How is your week going?

Not a clear photo but yesterday I noticed that this year the blueberry bush is loaded, absolutely loaded with flowers.  Last year there were hardly any.  I know some won't mature into fruit, but it looks promising, doesn't it?  Nice.

Yesterday went well.  The implant is now in and it's all absolutely fine and comfortable.  I did some gardening - the sun was shining beautifully although there was a chilly wind - and I enjoyed personal training very much.

To cap it all, the Y3/4 show was fantastic.

A really pleasant day indeed.

Today, I am off to the Riverside Shopping precinct as I gather Matalan has some summer dresses in.  This may sound daft but I will need a few more summer dresses for Crete next year and, if I don't get them this year, it will all be a bit of a rush.

No coffee and chat with Chris - she has to do something else.

In the afternoon, I will probably go to Lindsey's for a Groove class - she's happy for me to swap the morning SET for the afternoon Groove, either online or at Shimmy Studio.

So today should be a really pleasant day all round.

Take care, everyone, and enjoy the good weather.  xx

02-04-25

Morning, everyone.  I'm a bit later than usual because of the dentist but it's all done and dusted now and I'm back home and enjoying my first coffee of the day.

I felt I was drinking far too much coffee so I've started having boiling water with a slice of lemon and, to my surprise, I really like it.  It seems to start the day off well; I suppose it is very hydrating which is always a Good Thing.

Anyway - yesterday.  It was a really nice day.  The days are sunny but there's a chilly breeze and I was glad of my warm coat as Chris and I walked down.  It's a new block now and Lindsey had a new playlist and new routines which were, to be honest, a bit like hard work; one of the routines really wasn't kind to my ankles and feet but I can always adapt if it doesn't feel any easier next week.  By the evening, I was aching all over, but it's OK this morning and should feel easier next time.  It's an eight week block this time so by the end it will be fine, I am sure.

Then it was home and I got going with the housework, after which I went out the the garden room and that is now all fresh and clean and ready for idle afternoons reading or snoozing.  Very nice!  

It's shady in the garden room so the photo isn't the best but the Moroccan style blanket looks really lovely and I can see it from where I'm sitting.  I haven't got the matching cushion(s) yet and will wait until this spendy month is over and past.  They had some likely looking ones in Longacres so - well, I will think about it.

Anyway, it's all good and clean and attractive again.

Today has been the dentist, of course, and it feels so nice to not have that slightly uncomfortable gap in my mouth.  I've just had an apple and the chewing is much better too (hope that doesn't sound silly) so I am very satisfied.

There's just one more gap I want to fill with an implant now.  Tony Clough looked up my scans and measured and so on using some very complex software on his computer and, yes, the gum is suitable, so I have an appointment at the beginning of July.

This is all part of my 'spending my money on myself' thing that Dave and Kay were on about (in a nice way) at my financial review.  I don't think that's quite what they had in mind but it is right for me and I can afford it so . . . I'm going for it, with gratitude and thankfulness.  I have neglected my dental health for much of my life and want to make the most of what's left, so to speak.

On the way home, I stopped off at Morrisons as I was right out of table salt and carrots.  I can't remember the last time I needed to buy table salt, I use it so rarely, so I got a bit caught out.  And I need daily carrots in my life

Later on today it is personal; training as usual and then, in the evening, I am off to school to watch the Y3 and 4 production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.  I'm really looking forward to that, even though I don't know any of the children nowadays.

So, all in all, it is going to be a really nice day!  Hoping yours is too.  xx

02-04-25 - March review and April's aims

Written 01-04-25.

I thought I'd get this written today and set to post tomorrow so there will be something out.

These were the aims for March in italics with progress in normal:

1. Resume the daily decluttering
   Hmmm - not really.  I've done some, just not enough.
2. Get to grips with sourdough starter and baking
   Yes - done and sort of dusted.  I have two starters that seem to be pretty robust and I'm trying out recipes.  I'm booked to go on a sourdough day course in June and, basically, it has all been jolly good fun!
3. Learn how to re-stain my coffee table tops - and at least get started.
   Started.  Two of the tables have tops ready for revarnishing and I've hidden some of the superficial marks with varnish pen.
4. Find another knitting or crochet project
   Done.  I've made several pairs of fingerless gloves for the drop off point or, maybe, the food bank but I'm holding on to them until later in the year.  I've started a cardigan and that's going great guns too.

The ongoing aims were:

needs only spending

Er - sort of, not entirely.  This month HAS to be better because of some big amounts that will go out - car insurance, dental treatment, the remainder for a weekend at Potters, the deposit for the Spain holiday next April, new glasses and, possibly, new hearing aids, depending what they say at the check up.

using what I already had

Still doing that.   Yesterday I made a list from one of the bags in the freezer and now have ten meals planned using the contents thereof.  This weeks food shopping should be pretty small, not the usual beginning of new month blowout!  I want to continue that strategy - audit and then create meals.

regular savings

No.  I had money left over but it has just carried forward into April for those big payouts.  That's fine, it's what these particular savings are for.

keeping up with the financial spread sheet

Definitely.  It's really good to know exactly where I am, day by day.

food bank donating

Again, yes, and intend continuing for the remaining months of this year and, all being well, beyond.

decluttering

As the weather improves, I am feeling the call again so this month should see quite a difference.  I hope!  :-)

weed scraping

Of course and ongoing.

So - aims for April:

1.  a substantial amount of decluttering
2.   get the varnish, etc, and do those two coffee table tops - I have to admit, I am a bit nervous about this.
3. be more frugal/economical this month so I can pay all those large bills without digging into savings much more.
4. to be back in my happy weight zone again and continue to eat Mediterranean style to keep myself as fit and well as I can possibly be

I think that will do.  Most of the ongoings have now become habits - things like keeping up to date with finances, food bank donation, knitting, weed scraping, and even frugality and saving, regardless of March and April.

By the end of April, I will be able to see my way forward in savings again, I will have paid for Potters in June, I will have new and improved glasses and reliable hearing aids again, and I will have enjoyed several meals with family and friends - out with Beth and Alex for Mother's Day, to Val's for lunch on my birthday and, the next day, Dave and Anna round for dinner.  Hopefully, also, some sort of birthday jolly with Chris and with Diane.

So there we are - March's review and April's aims.   Back again next month.  xx

01-04-25

Happy April 1st, everyone!

It was an absolutely beautiful day round here yesterday, a three load drying day with fence to fence sunshine and, after a chilly start, a warm rest of day.  Fantastic.  It is supposed to be very similar for the rest of the week, with Friday being positively summer-like around here.

I got quite a lot of stuff done yesterday including some outstanding things such as renewing my driving licence, getting my medication review date sorted out, etc, etc, and  I read the gas meter so that's done for another month.

Plus the three loads of washing, drying and ironing.

And I dusted and polished around downstairs but didn't sweep the carpets so that's on today's list as well as freshening up the Garden Room now that the weather has turned so lovely.

The only thing in the diary is Groove with Chris and I have made a note to do the finances because quite a chunk of monthly payments go out on the first and I want to check that the car insurance has gone too.

A short one today - things are just ticking over nicely at the moment.  I probably won't post until later tomorrow morning as I have a dental appointment at half past eight for the last session of implant treatment - and paying the rest of the bill - ouch!

Have a lovely day, one and all.  Stay safe and be happy.  xx

31-03-25 and remembering Mum.

Good morning, everyone.  Today starts off very like yesterday with sunshine and a chilly temperature/touch of frost.  Yesterday morphed into wall to wall sunshine and today is supposed to be similar - I do hope so!

For Marjorie and anyone else interested, yes, I have a sourdough crumpet recipe.

You use 230g sourdough starter discard and mix it with one tsp granulated sugar, quarter to half tsp salt and, after mixing that, add three eighths tsp bicarb.  It will all froth up and bubble - that's the bicarb.

Heat a griddle or other pan over a cool to medium heat, grease it and your crumpet rings, warm the rings on the griddle and then pour in the mix - it should make four crumpets.

Cook for five minutes until there are bubbles in the top and it is starting to set.  Then carefully flip them over, rings and all.  The rings should drop down the turned crumpets and can be lifted off (they will be hot!).  Don't try and take them off too soon - they will just stick.

Continue to cook for a few minutes until they top (now the bottom) is golden brown.

The temperature is the important thing, I have found.  Too hot and the bottom cooks before the bubbles set on top.  I now know what ring setting works best.

Yesterday's pizza dough worked much better and is now in two sort of circular bases (they have curved edges, that's all I am saying!!) in the freezer.  I have high hopes.

The 100% wholemeal was a puzzle.  It didn't rise overly in the second ferment and I am glad I did it in a loaf tin.  It rose a bit while cooking.  However, it came out OK and with a pronounced sourdough flavour which I think I like - it's a bit of an acquired taste, isn't it?

The crumb looks OK, doesn't it?

I'll try it again but add less water, I think.  Not for a few weeks though - I have so much bread in the freezer now and I don't eat all that much myself.  I didn't make the crumpets yesterday so will do them but nothing else now for a while.

Today, being Monday, starts with circuits and then it is downstairs housework.  It's also the last day of March so I must remember to read the gas meter at some point.  That, plus any washing and the crumpets, should take up a good part of the day and then I can sit and chill with my knitting.  Maybe even outside, if the weather permits - that would be nice.  I bet Lindsey has Circuits outside today too.

Today (as well as yesterday), I am also taking some time to think about my lovely Mum who passed away early in the morning of March 31st, 2019 which just happened to be Mothering Sunday that year.  I still have the card I got from me, John and Dave which I never gave her.
I was so lucky to have her for so long, wasn't I?

Myrle Daphne Cannell, nee Jarvis

19-10-27 - 31-03-19

RIP best of Mums and all-round fantastic lady.