Sunday, 23-08-26 and a trip to Southwold.

 Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Sunday.  Isn't it crazy how the year is just slipping away now?  It's sunny here but it was quite a chilly night and I nearly closed my bedroom window when I went to the loo at around two-ish.

Yesterday was absolutely lovely.  My tum behaved, thank goodness.  That was quite a worry as it did go a bit doolally Friday afternoon again, but it was fine.  Phew.

It wasn't 100% sunny at Southwold, there was quite a lot of cloud, but it was warm enough and when the sun came out it was very comfortable indeed.
We had a good journey there - no closed roads this time - and arrived about 9:40 ish.  I was able to access the little beach hut at ten (just before, in fact).

Outside . . . 

Inside.  Plain, simple, clean as a new pin and perfect as a base.

From the end of the pier (mine is third from the right).

And with a key even I couldn't possibly lose in my bag!

The brewery tour was, as I expected, excellent.  It was Saturday so there was no work in the actual buildings, but they were busy loading and unloading kegs.

Debbie explained the processes and then took us round the actual machinery.

Very modern-steampunk!  Very clean and shiny!

Then we went into a small bar where we had fun tasting.
I was careful - but I didn't want to opt out.  We tried eight different Adnams products - beer, ale and a lager (all very satisfying) before being given a voucher for the shop.

Last time I didn't buy anything because I would have to carry it round with me.  This time . . . I made the most of having a base.

I got a couple of cans, one of the lager which I really did like and one of Yuletide Festive Beer.  They're restyling their labels and, later on today, I'll take some photos - I do like the new labels.

As well as that, I bought a couple of wee bottles of cocktail - one lychee based and a negroni but they are no longer with us - and very nice they were too.

As well as that, I got a bottle of their Smidgin - their alcohol free gin which is quite the best alcohol free gin I have tasted.  It's also very Slimming World friendly.  I can't have any yet because it needs tonic, of course.

Then they had some beautiful tapas bowls and I fell . . .  :-)

I'll take photos later.

They sell online too - now that's very unfortunate!

After all that, I queued for absolutely ages and the Little Fish and Chip Shop for my lunch and then walked back to the hut.
It was a HUGE portion, absolutely delicious, and I brought more than half home and had it with the cocktails.

Taken earlier in the day - see, we did get some sunshine!

Finally, I walked along the beach, down the pier and had an ice cream (you have to, don't you) before packing up, dropping off the key and getting back on the coach!

Just a really lovely day by the sea.

I started today by picking loads of tomatoes.  I didn't pick any yesterday, of course.  So they need dealing with.

I've started Lindsey's sourdough.  This time it is a mainly white one (the starter is rye) because her son is home for a week and he really likes my white sourdough.

So I starting making the dough and found I didn't have enough strong white.  Never mind, loads of people use all purpose for their bread, so I added that.  Still not enough.  I had to top it up to 500g with some pasta flour!!  However, half way through the stretch and folds, it's making a lovely dough so fingers crossed.
And I feel a visit to Marriage's Mill coming on soon.

I'm hoping to pop round to Beth's this afternoon with her bread and some tomatoes.  That will be nice.
Around that, I have the house to tidy, meals to make, tomatoes to deal with and some chilling time.
And then I need to consider packing for Spain because this time in a fortnight, we will be on the plane.  

And my tum is fine, absolutely fine.  Phew!
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone

Friday, 21-08-26

Hi, everyone.  It's Friday!!  This week has been a real non-event but things are really picking up now, thankfully.

Thanks for the info about pears, Alison.  And that's a great segue into . . .

. . . this!

Remember the lone pear, the only survivor from the June drop?  It's still hanging on, pretty much the proper size for a self-respecting pear now and I need to look up 'how to know when a pear is ready for picking 

 as they don't ripen on the tree, I believe.

(five minutes later)

I did and there's lots of info including YouTube videos.  Who know?  Anyway, this is what I copied and pasted.

How to Know When a Pear is Ready to Pick

To determine if a pear is ready to pick, look for the following signs:

Colour Change: Pears typically transition from deep green to yellow or golden hues. Some varieties may stay green but develop a slightly duller finish. 

Gentle Twist Test: Hold the pear and give it a quarter-turn. If it separates easily from the stem, it’s ready. No tugging needed! 

Neck Softness: Press near the stem with your thumb. A slight give (like a ripe avocado) means it’s time. Avoid bruising the fruit. 

Size Maturity: Pears stop growing in size 1-2 weeks before ripeness. Compare to a grocery-store pear of the same variety. 

Sweet Aroma: Sniff the stem end. A faint, sweet fragrance means the fruit is maturing. No smell? It’s not ready yet. 

These signs will help you harvest pears at peak flavor and nutrition, ensuring maximum retention of dietary fibre, vitamin C, copper, and polyphenols. 

(edited for a bit of mildly irritating American spelling - irritating to me because I am a bit of a pedant, no offence intended - I am sure my spelling is equally irritating to any American readers).

Anyway, not I know.

Moving on, yesterday's biggie was the start of a new series of Ludwig which I have been looking forward to for ages now.  I'm afraid that I watched it on iPlayer, not just the first episode but the first three which were there.  I know I will watch them again as there are lots of funny, quirky bits that one misses the first time round.
Anyway, I love Ludwig and it was really very good with the same overarching long story and a murder solution based on a different puzzle each week.  Plus some new characters.  

Today I am off to Slimming World and then home to pack my bag for tomorrow because tomorrow I am off to Southwold on the Broomfield coach (fingers crossed).

This time, I have hired a beach hut and I'm so glad I did because the weather is a bit uncertain and a base to drop things will be so helpful.  Last time I booked a distillery tour; this time it is the brewery.

So I'm planning to arrive, get into the beech hut, sainted along the promenade to Adnams, taking in a coffee if there's time, then meander up to the shop with my voucher (they hand out vouchers and this time I might spend it as I don't have to carry things around for the rest of the day.  By that time it will be time for lunch so I will buy some fish and chips and take them back to the hut to enjoy.
Hopefully, the weather will be nice enough for a meander down the beach and back again before getting back on the coach.

That's the plan, anyway.  The weather forecast looks promising, although not all that warm, so I will take some kind of warm covering with me like a true Brit!!  Sitting on the sea front in a garden chair (there will be one in the hut) with a blanket over is so iconically British seaside, isn't it?

Right, well, time to go.  Have a good day, all.  I probably won't post tomorrow so see you Sunday.  xx

Thursday, 20-08-26

Good morning.  It's a cool and cloudy early morning here in mid-Essex and it's staying dark significantly longer now.  BBC predicts some light rain at some point today - we will see.

Thank you, again, for your kind and helpful comments.  After a few dodgy moments yesterday morning, everything has stayed put since and I really think that, as long as I am careful, things should stay that way.  
I had porridge for breakfast and then some plain chicken and white rice for dinner - very unexciting but it was bland and there were no repercussions.

Now I need to think about carefully replacing all the good stuff in my gut, don't I?

Yesterday was boring in other ways too.  I did a bit of washing and a bit of housework but kept falling asleep.  Not surprising, I guess.

After exchanging messages with Lindsey, I won't be going to Personal Training today; I have to admit that, much as I enjoy it, it's a great relief.  Chris is away so no coffee and chat but I will be meeting up with Val at Hyde Hall for lunch.  That's the plan anyway although I really don't have much energy and am more than a little inclined to reschedule.  I feel guilty at the number of people I have cancelled on this week but they all seemed to understand.

Actually, while writing the above, I realised that apart from everything else, I am concerned about the drive there and back as well so I have just messaged Val to cancel and offer alternative days.  And now I feel happier and very relieved so that was the right decision.

So another day of chilling and focusing on getting my diet sorted.  Plenty of the good stuff, little and fairly often, I guess.

And tomorrow my post should be a lot more cheerful again.  :-)

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Wednesday, 19-08-26

Hi, everyone!  Welcome to Wednesday!  We have had rain, yay.  Enough that the paving was still wet when I woke.  Not enough to do anything for the water shortage but enough that I don't need to water - every little helps.

Thank you for your ongoing concern.  Yesterday wasn't as good as hoped.  I managed to eat a bit of the bland stuff but nothing stayed inside for long which was a nuisance.  No cramps though - a real blessing there.
I took one more dose of Imodium before I went to bed and fingers crossed.  I'm a bit nervous about eating today but must - maybe some porridge for breakfast, made with water and with a bit of honey for energy.  Later on, chicken and white rice.  Bland and carby but . . .

Fingers crossed!

The tomatoes are building up as I haven't eaten any since Sunday so yesterday I gave a big bagful to my lovely neighbours.  I was going to take some to the Girls' Meal for Beth, Linda and Julia but that didn't come off.  So right now I have some cooking in Thermione with onion and roasted red pepper to make a sort of all purpose sauce/passata (and the smell isn't making me feel too yuck which is good).  Later I will skin a lot of the mini ones and freeze them whole.

There's nothing in the diary today, not even PT now I have swapped to Thursday early morning.  I suspect I will sleep on and off and eat little and often to get some strength back.  
I'm doing a lot of crossing fingers today!

Isn't this pretty?
One of the blooms on the confused dahlia at the front.  Really cheering!

Right, well, I think the tomatoes are done.  I need to blend them and then push it all through my Mouli to get a nice, smooth result.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Tuesday, 18-08-26

Morning, everyone.
We have had rain!!  Not a lot, but better than nothing at all.

Thank you for your lovely comments yesterday - you are all so kind.  Five Imodiums (Imodia??) later and this morning things seem to have settled into stillness again.  Phew.
After eating precious little plus the problem itself, I'm feeling washed out and lethargic, empty but not hungry and I need to pace myself carefully today.

So no Groove, my meetup with Diane is rescheduled, as was the meal I was having with Beth, Julia and Linda yesterday evening.  Why can't these things happen when there's nothing in the diary?

It's a hard life (said very tongue in cheek!).

Seriously, I will be fine and I hope you all are too.  Have a lovely day and stay safe and well.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Monday, 17-08-26

No post today (apart from this one) - had a really rough night.
See you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday, 16-08-26

Good morning, everyone.  After a deliciously cool night where I was glad to snuggle under my duvet, today has started off so comfortably cool too.  Long may it last.

My Oddbox was waiting for me on the doorstep this morning.  It looks lovely and I'm looking forward to using the contents.  Loads of carrots this time - I dearly love carrots!
You do get a choice - it starts off the a list (I have a small mixed fruit and veg box) and you can swap items or add items so there's considerable choice one way or another -  they email a reminder before the window for subbing closes which is great.

I'm back on the old bread making now.  Lindsey's sourdough is waiting for its second stretch and folds and Beth's mixed yeast and sourdough is doing its first rise.  I've missed the breadmaking this past two or three weeks.

Better go and get a few more things done - meal prep and so on.   I'm feeling more energetic now which is such a relief.

Take care, all, and have a good day.  xx