Thursday 23 June 2022

Thursday

 Today's garden happy - the cucumber that didn't drop off.  This was the titchy little cucumber that was on the plant when I bought it and I expected it to fall off while the plant was recovering.  However, as you can see, it didn't.  I wonder if I might be picking my first cucumber of the year next week?

The photo makes it look bigger than it really is, mind you.


Good morning, everyone.  Yesterday was, again, absolutely gorgeous but today is more of a mixture with sun, sunny intervals and rain all expected and a yellow warning of storms.  What will be, will be, so I'll see how it all develops.  My biggest decision is whether to leave the covered egg chair out or bring it in!

I did a very silly thing yesterday.  I drove over to the Clock Tower precinct to do my shopping in M&S and Aldi.  At the checkout, I packed away my shopping, looked in my purse for my card and - ah!  Not there.  No panic, I knew where it was, thank goodness, but it was rather embarrassing although, in true M&S style, they brushed it under the carpet, explained the procedure quickly, gave me a slip with a code and said my shopping would be at the service desk when I got back with my card, don't worry, it happens a lot, it's fine . . . etc.  
Because I felt a bit flustered, as one does, it wasn't until I got home that I remembered I actually had enough cash in my purse to pay for that plus anything I wanted from Aldi too.  So I wasted petrol on an unnecessary journey home and back, darn it!
I felt very silly!

I know I said just one garden photo a day, but I've moved the egg chair into the space where the compost bin was, just for now, with a pot of bamboo beside it.  It looks a bit sparse in the photo but it's in a lovely, shady spot under next door's overhanging birch branches and will be a very pleasant place to chill.
(It would look better if I'd taken the cover off, I know!)



Apart from that, I got the ironing done and I enjoyed a chatty personal training session with lovely Lindsey.  It was quite hot so I did a fair bit of resting and relaxing to stay cool.  I got the ironing done though.

Today was going to be rather busy but now it isn't.
Chris and I were going to go to Lathcoats to pick strawberries but Chris had to pull out as her mum is under the weather.  I thought I would go on my own but received the daily email from Lathcoats saying that they were closing PYO to allow more fruit to ripen.  Fair enough but a bit disappointing because I can't go tomorrow and the weekend is busy so it's next Monday at the earliest and what's the betting next Monday will be closed again after heavy weekend picking. 
Oh, well, that's life.

Later on, I have a freebie Groove session.  Lindsey is recording her new routines and finds it easier to do it with a 'class' there - more natural and less of a performance - so she asks for volunteers and I always offer.  I love a free session!

But the biggie today is making some cakes.  I can make a reasonable cake but don't do so all that often nowadays, it only being me here and - you know, Slimming World, etc.
However, my friend, Faith, is having a MacMillan tea/coffee afternoon tomorrow so I offered to provide some cake.  As I think I've already said, I am making a coffee and walnut cake and I thought I would make a classic Victoria sponge with strawberry jam and butter icing too.  
Must dig out my cake tins.

Well, time to stop and get my kitchen into some sort of order before baking.  Have a wonderful day, stay cool, stay safe and keeeeeeep smiling!  xx


21 comments:

  1. I wouldn't feel too silly, Joy, we've all done something similar, I'm sure. At least your card wasn't lost, or worse.
    Your egg chair looks perfectly situated. Now to sit back and relax, shaded from the hot sun. X

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    1. I think most people have - that's what the nice M&S lady said too! Yes, I was very thankful it wasn't just gone . . .
      I think it's a nice spot and will work for me. Out of the way but there. xx

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  2. Been there... done that and know how daft you felt. I love the idea of the egg chair... When does work on the garden room start?

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    1. I'm still waiting on the final quote, Cherie. I doubt it will be this year now, which is a disappointment, but one I can easily survive with! :-) xx

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  3. I bet the check out ladies have seen everything before! and thank goodness you knew straight away where your card was.
    My 6 strawberry plants have done so well - I'm quite amazed by them

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    1. I keep meaning to ask you if you still have your allotment or did you give it up and hadn't noticed

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    2. Yes, after the first moment of shock-horror, I was fine about that.
      How lovely that your plants have done so very well. There's nothing quite as good as a fresh picked strawberry, is there.

      I think I've pretty much decided to give the allotment up. It's just too much. I think that, if it was closer, easier to get the heavy tools to, etc, and/or if Beth still had the time to share the load, it might be a different matter but, as it is, it has become an encumbrance and a worry. I've decided I don't need that in my life. xx

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  4. Been there and done that with forgetting my card so I know how you felt. Glad the card wasn't lost though with all the hassle that involves.

    Enjoy your baking session today xx

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    1. I've removed the other message. :-)
      I guess most people have, at some time or other. The M&S system was so smooth, they must see it a lot.
      For once, the cakes have both come out really well. Phew. They don't always. xx

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  5. Great system they have for lost/forgotten card situations, shows how common it must be.

    A freebie Groove session sounds great, enjoy!

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    1. It does, doesn't it? It'll be nice to find out what Lindsey has in store for the class over the next five weeks. xx

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  6. Add me to the list of 'been there done that' too :)
    And you have reminded me that I haven't been to M&S for a while. I must correct that.

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    1. I do like shopping in M&S and it's not as comparatively expensive as it used to be either. I like their fruit and veg - it's good quality. xx

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  7. Oh dear so we're not the only 'numpties!!' But turned out ok for you, I'm smiling reading this!

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    1. Looks like we're not, doesn't it. Mind you, the numptiest part was forgetting I had cash - one is so used to paying by card nowadays. xx

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  8. Been there and done that. I am just thankful that the city I live in only takes 5 or so minutes to drive across.

    God bless.

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    1. That's nice and quick. Easy on time and on petrol.
      xx

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  9. Hope this posts. Been trying to post on Her in Him out 2 to no avail…I like her blog…glad you found your card…I have to keep everything in place…card in wallet on billfold in purse…keys on hook by door…phone on ledge on eating area kitchen…puzzle books on ottoman…can’t help it…IPad on nightstand…laptop on my grandsons’ desk here…sounds silly but…forgetful…you will have more time for reading and fun without your garden this year…

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    1. I like Sue's blog too. You might find that your comments are going to her spam folder - that's what seems to be happening at the moment. I now check the spam folder daily, having cleared it so all new spam shows straight away.

      Your system sounds good. Not at all silly; I wish I were more like that. xx

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  10. I'm sure, like they said, that lots of people have done that. I haven't but I have had to put things back in the past when I haven't had enough cash in my purse, which used to be very embarrassing in the days before EPOS tills. And far better to do it somewhere like M&S where the staff are lovely.

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  11. Oh no! Sorry about the card! I've done that too. Glad they were able to hold the shopping until you got back. I bet that cucumber will taste great. I grew them one year (before we started feeding the birds and the deer were less in numbers) and they tasted so good fresh off the plant. They were really crisp.

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