04-07-25

Morning, my lovelies.  How are you all today?

I woke super-early this morning and have been downstairs making dough!  Daft?  Probably, but it makes me happy so . . . why not.

The mandatory garden photos for today:

Great excitement - I have a ripening tomato.  Just one.  It's a Tumbling Tom, not sure if it's the red or the orange one; I suspect the latter.  Once one gets the idea, the others soon catch on too and this feels pretty early for me.
Nice!!

And the runner beans are coming on a treat.  I'm starting to see some little flower stems emerging, which is great.

Yesterday started with the SET class online - always good - and then I did some vaguely helpful housework in dribs and drabs.  This has been a very lazy week for housework but I will back to get my act together because I have people round for lunch on several days next week, not to mention the lovely Sharon coming round to do my hair so the kitchen needs to be see-able.

I need to plan some meals too, don't I?
Better get going with that.

Groove in the afternoon was brilliant but, sadly, this block is the last block and it won't resume in September.  There's very good reasons which I will share another time but I'm sad about it.

I've just popped into the kitchen and now my first attempt at baguettes, using a Thermomix recipe, is all shaped and on the new tin, covered with a damp cloth and in around forty five minutes it should be ready for the oven.
I followed Veronica's advice and looked up how to fold and shape baguettes.  Different bakers have different methods, of course, but I got the general idea so fingers crossed.
The other dough, the sourdough, is slower and will need to go into the fridge when I go to Slimming World.
I'll take a few photos whether the outcome be successful or less so.  Got to try in order to learn!

It's Alex's Cookery Club later and he sounds really quite excited to have a go at carrot crepes with a tomato sauce.  Apparently, last week's sausage and bean casserole went down so well with both of them that he went out and bought a new set of ingredients to make it again.  That's what I call a win every time!

Well, I just have time to shower, wash my hair, etc, and get dressed before the baguettes should be ready for baking - so I will love you and leave you with my hopes that you all have the best day.  Jackie and Chris - I hope you can stay cool and fresh in the summer heat.  

See you!  xx

03-07-25

Morning, everyone.

(photos taken yesterday morning)

Great activity going on with the cucumbers.  I looked at a few videos and have started pinching out as many side shoots (or suckers) as I can, as I do with the tomatoes although it always amazes me how many I miss and how quickly they grow.

One or two are rather too big to cut out so I am training them up a cane instead.

The females now have flowers so I have dug out a soft bristles brush (from my make up drawer!) and am helping the pollination process along, as suggested on one of the videos.  

So far, so good!

There's loads and loads of tomatoes now but not much sign of ripening - yet.  Maybe this hot weather we have had will make a difference in the next few weeks but I believe outdoor tomatoes ripen later than greenhouse ones anyway.  We will see.

I'm picking loads of blueberries at the moment and plan to make a batch of blueberry discard pancakes for the freezer.  There's also a few rogue raspberries but not too many.

The Premium Bonds have come up trumps again; this month I am drawing it down to cover the cost of a new fan as one of my old ones has rather given up and isn't pushing out the air very much.  I've ordered a bladeless one, just a cheap version and nothing like a Dyson, but, if it's good, I might go upmarket a bit.  Do any of you have bladeless fans - are they good?

I've also ordered a baguette baking tray so I can make different loaves.  Sourdough isn't quite the same as a baguette dough but that's OK, it's the shape that's so useful.
One of these days, I might look up the authentic recipe but I believe that involves a specialist flour that's quite expensive.  Does anyone know?

While on the subject, I have a great pot full of discard but have read that it's great for the compost heap so, rather than draining it and risking a blockage, all that lovely yeasty stuff can feed my compost instead - all that I don't need for the blueberry pancakes, of course.

The SEND meeting with J was really helpful and informative.  Plenty to write about, for sure.  Afterwards, I went to Morrisons as Alex would like to use Thermione on Friday to make carrot crepes in a tomato sauce.  It may sound off but they recipe looks great and he should be able to just work through it while I watch.  Anyway, I got what was needed so am now all set up and ready for that.

It's surprising how tiring extreme heat can be.  Monday and Tuesday evenings I was fighting to keep my eyes open beyond eight and was asleep well before nine, sleeping badly and waking often.  Last night I was fine, bed near ten, slept well and feel refreshed this morning.  It almost felt chilly and I have a dressing gown on for the first time in what feels like ages.

It is sunny though, at the moment, and is supposed to be pleasant - sunny, light winds and a high of 24.  It sounds really nice.

Today is another easier day.  I'm doing two sections of SET this morning and Groove in the Garden this afternoon.  Between them, it is homey stuff.  Chris is away so no coffee and chat today.

I've started a smaller sourdoughs in Thermione, just to see if it works that way, and I want to start making yogurt again.  I gave away my yogurt maker but I can use Thermione and a flask - worth a try as I am finding I throw out so much milk that has gone off in this warmer weather.

Finally, I have to write the report of the meeting and send it off for approval.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Enjoy the cooler weather and stay safe.  xx

02-07-25

Good morning, everyone.  
I am so thankful - we have a much cooler day predicted today and, right now, it is cloudy and raining slightly while the top temp today is predicted to be around 22C.  I am so grateful.
Round here, yesterday was a real scorcher, must have been well into the 30s and stepping out to hang out washing felt like stepping into an oven.  It was a very uncomfortable first half of the night too, very sweaty and nasty, even with the fans on.  It didn't help that my tum went on me a bit too - the heat, I assume.

Enough grumbling!  The heat was good in one respect:

The best white sourdough I think I have ever made and, because it was so warm, the starter was very active and so was the dough - you could see the bubbles forming in it and I just hope there aren't too many holes.
This one is for Lindsey, not for me.  As most of you know, I have promised her a loaf a week for her birthday present, although she will be away most of August.

Groove was baking though (like the bread but not so active!!)

Lyndsey did her hot weather class - a steady beat and 'nothing too energetic' (her words).   It may not have been as energetic as usual but it was quite enough, thank you, and we all ended sweaty and a bit drained.  I'm very glad I did it though - and also very glad I took the car.  I wouldn't have enjoyed walking back in that heat.

Housework?  What housework?

Today has two things in the diary.  I'm off into school for the termly SEND meeting, paperwork to hand, this morning.  It shouldn't take that long, hopefully.  Then, later on, I'm off to Lindsey's for personal training.  It should be do-able as it's cooler today.  
And housework.  Must get housework done too.  The place is becoming a tip.

What's it like your way?  Comfortable, I hope.  Have a lovely day.  xx

01-07-25

 Morning, everyone.

So here we are in July, entering the second half of 2025 with a beautifully sunny early morning.  It will hot up and become less comfortable but, right now, it is lovely.  I've prepped quite a lot of my food for today and I've started this week's sourdough for Lindsey - a while one this time.  I should be able to get it all done today; after all, it is warm enough!

All those plans for yesterday - well, I did manage to get some ironing done but the housework got left and I couldn't do the finances because my phone was out of data - note to self: do NOT send big photos to friend.  SO I tackled them early this morning.  It was a bit more complicated what with some of July's stuff already out and the Eddie money hanging fire until tomorrow but I was able to work it out OK, I think. 

Today is going to be hot again.  Getting ready for fitness classes is a bit more complicated what with making sure I have a towel, the wet flannel is cooling in the freezer and there's really cold water to take with me in my flask.  It's worth it though - it makes a big difference.
I'm not walking to Groove and back again.  Going would be OK but by the time the class is over, it will be pretty hot - and so will I.

I'll see how it goes today.  I really ought to do some dusting, etc and it's not too energetic, is it?  I have a meeting tomorrow to prepare for and I can always recipe hunt - I enjoy that.  Not to mention finishing off the banket and a sourdough loaf to get on with.
Actually it should be quite a pleasant day.

I hope yours is good too.  Stay safe and well.  xx

Spot the babies - how many baby chillies can you find in this photo 
(I have no idea but there are loads)!

30-06-25

Good morning.  So, here we are at the very end of June.  Half way through the year, pretty much, and in the middle of a 'heatwave'.

Yesterday worked out fine.  The Thermo cooking demo worked out fine.  I was just looking to learn (there's always something new to find out about Thermione) and it is an opportunity for a free meal too.   The consultants made sticky chilli beef, devilled eggs, potato salad (including the mayo) and sous-vide apples.  All delicious and I will make them at home.

Before then, I had worked up by making some caramelised onion chutney and some lentil and veg bolognaise sauce in Thermione.  I must use her more, given how much I am shelling out on TM7!

I used the bus as the timings worked out well and got home well in time for Eddie who came round with the precious external hard drive continuing pretty much all of my lost data.  There's a few files that are incomplete but nothing crucial and I have my precious family photos and recipes, etc.  Phew.

Today begins with circuits and that's it as far as the diary is concerned.  Downstairs could do with a good clean and tidy - I've done the bits that show but it's time to pull things out, etc.

As it is the end of the month I will also read the gas meter and finalise the finances for June - a bit more complicated as I paid for the computer thingy but the money from my Premium Bonds account is being paid after tomorrow's draw (my choice, you never know) so I have to take that into account.

Well, time to love you and leave you.  Have the best day and stay cool, everyone.  xx

29-06-25

Hello again, everyone.  It's Sunday, day of rest, day of doing not-a-lot.  Mine is sort of like that; self-chosen nice thing and making progress in sorting out the PC issues.  That's all good.

Garden photos:  I took a couple of views across the garden a few minutes ago.   Not great light - the sun hasn't properly come out yet, but you get the idea.

While it is a kind of old fashioned layout nowadays, it is one of my happy spaces at the moment with everything growing and promising tasty things or looking pretty.

And one daring runner bean is reaching for the stars.  The others are not that far behind.   It is amazing how quickly they grow once they get going.

Yesterday's walk was very pleasant.  We took it slowly as one of our number has been quite ill, but that meant more time for chatting.  
When we started at around 10:30, it was delightfully fresh.  Not cool but really pleasant.  By the time we finished it was a lot hotter and I think we were all glad to get into our respective transport and turn on the fan!

I had my online chat later and it was very helpful.  It is easy to forget how amazing technology is and how much it has come on.  Being able to chat to someone, face to face, me in Essex and her in New York is something we just take for granted and it is incredible really.

Today I have already been pretty busy in the kitchen knocking up a batch of lentil and veg bolognaise sauce in Thermione.  It was supposed to be to portions but it's come out as three of my sized portions.  All I have to do now is cook the spaghetti and make a little side salad and that's dinner sorted.

Lunch will be at the Thermomix centre, of course, as I'm going to that demo, catching the bus at eleven.

Then, later on, Eddie is round with my retrieved data to see what can be done.  Exciting stuff.

So that's my Sunday.  How about yours - what do you have on the timetable today?  Whatever it is, I hope it's good and enjoyable.  

Stay cool.  xx

28-06-25

Good morning, welcome to Saturday and another weekend!  It was a bit of a scorcher yesterday afternoon, wasn't it?  And supposed to get hotter today and ongoing although right now it is delightfully cool and fresh.  The windows and French doors are all open, of course, and my extra, smaller fan has been brought into use.  It may be small but it is quite powerful and quieter thasn the pedestal fans.

As planned, Alex turned up for the cookery session around midday.  I had found a good, straightforward sausage and bean casserole recipe but for meat eaters and I didn't have all the veg in so we sat down and talked about how to adapt a recipe.  Really useful.
Then he followed the recipe more or less by himself and did very well indeed.  He's getting the hang of it, for sure.  I must remember to write what he did out as a recipe and let him have it.

Eddie got in touch.  The company he used has retrieved pretty much all of the data from my defunct C drive, put it all onto alternative storage and has sent it back.  Eddie's coming round Sunday afternoon to go through what to do, talk about what my laptop needs, etc.

Eye wateringly expensive but I've pulled them money out of medium term savings and count myself very, very fortunate.

Dave and Anna turned up in the evening, bearing wine!
I had kept things very simple - a lovely creamy feta dip with some toasted buckwheat soda bread and some seeded crackers, both gluten free so Dave can have it, and mains was just a cold meat salad.  Dessert was a selection of fruit with some cream to dunk into if wanted.

There's not an awful lot left so, obviously, it went down well.  What's left will feed me nicely today without much need for cooking.

Today's garden update is a goodie.  We have babies!

It's one of those situations when you spot one baby and then, suddenly, they are popping out all over.  They are all on one plant but I expect the other won't be far behind.

I didn't have any choice of variety, getting them so late (the first ones collapsed and died), and these are an old variety called Telegraph.  I looked up about it and all the info seems to indicate that as long as the insects are  doing their duty, I don't need to pinch male flowers out or assist the pollination in any way.  
They're outside and the insects are obviously getting their act together so I will water, feed and let them be.

Yesterday, I made some comment about looking forward to an easier weekend.  Famous Last Words.
I suppose it's not not-easy, but now there is stuff in the diary.

This morning it's the SW friends walk which will be really pleasant.  Then, this afternoon, I'm having an online chat to a friend in the US which should be nice.

Then tomorrow I am back to town to the Thermomix Centre for a class entitled 'A Toast To TM6'.  

The bumph says:

Welcome to a very special A TOAST TO TM6 Class!

Join us at the THERMOMIC COOKING STUDIO IN CHELMSFORD for a carefully curated class by our Thermomix Advisors in Essex to showcase our favourite TM6 dishes.

You’ll see how easy it is to create beautiful, healthy food quickly and easily - a homemade menu everyone will love whilst saving money and time.

We’ll talk you step-by-step through some delicious recipes and show you how easy they are to make at home with a Thermomix®. We will be looking at a range of recipes on Cookidoo®, our recipe subscription platform and you’ll be able to learn even more about the amazing things you can do with a Thermomix®. And what’s more, you’ll be able to ask any questions as we go along and taste some great food.

Now, my current one is a 6 but, when my 7 arrives, some time in September, Beth and Alex will use my 6.  I want to see what these classes are like because Beth and Alex might like to go to one.  Best thing - they are all free!!

Then, later on, Eddie is over, as mentioned above.

So, nothing very stressful, just not as much crochet time as expected!  :-)

Right now, though, I am avoiding looking to my right because yesterday evening I was so shattered that when Dave and Anna left, I went up to bed without clearing up (I never do that normally) and now it is shouting at me.
So guess what I have to do first thing . . .

Happy Saturday, everyone.  Stay chilled, don't forget the water and apply the sun cream.  xx

27-06-25

Morning, everyone.  We've had rain overnight (great) but the sun is shining now, the forecast is OK and the garden looks happy.

A few garden photos:

The chilli has wee peppers popping out all over.  No sign of turning red yet, but they will.

The baby corn is coming on surprisingly well, considering . . .

This was labelled as a 'novelty' tomato and the fruit certainly is an odd shape, like one of those old fashioned Christmas tree baubles.

Sungolds - yay!!

And, finally, I am so glad I decided to plant some hanging baskets.  They are starting to look very pretty.

Yesterday was lovely.  I had a good old chat with Chris and when Val arrived I had a good old chat with her too.  She loved her birthday gifts which was a relief and we both enjoyed the lunch.

Today is another busy but nice one.

It's Slimming World first, of course.  Then Alex is over for his cookery lesson.  Today I'm going to show him how I adapt a recipe to make it vegetarian and to work with what I have got in before we make sausage casserole.

Once I have taken him home, I will be busy getting everything ready for Dave and Anna coming over for dinner.  I'm keeping it pretty simple with salad and starter is dips but things still have to be prepped, don't they?

I dusted and swept yesterday so won't worry about that.

It will be lovely today but I'm quite looking forward to a few easier days over the weekend.

Have a great day, everyone.  xx

26-06-25

Morning, everyone.  It's cloudy at the moment and feels cool but not that fresh, if that makes sense.  

Yesterday was busy, busy busy.

I'd been hoping that the petrol would hold out until Tuesday but on the way home from circuits (very good, as usual) the warning light came on, darn it.
So I went home, finished baking the sourdough loaf for Lindsey and then drove out to fill up before driving on to Longacres as it is Val's birthday on Sunday and I wanted to get her gift.  I came home with a lovely potted geranium, the outdoor and perennial kind to go with a rather nice piece of pottery in the blue she loves so much.

While I was that way, I decided to stop off at Sainsbury's to get a few things that only they do like their own dishwasher powder.  It didn't stop there, of course, I got some other stuff too and, apart from a few things for Friday evening, that's my shopping done for this coming week.

I had a lovely time cooking stuff.  Val's here today and I made a pasta bake that just needs reheating and cheese-ing, some seeded crackers to go with the baker and a salad and a jug of not-quite-gazpacho (I didn't have any green peppers).

That last wasn't difficult - it was just a case of shoving the ingredients into Thermione and blending it all with some ice cubes.  It was very nice but will taste loads better once I can use garden tomatoes.  

I will serve it in a glass with ice and a glass 'straw' to drink it - like a cocktail but, obviously, not . . .

Today's another busy one.
I'm doing the first two sections of SET online with Lindsey, then Chris is over for our usual coffee and chat and, finally, Val is over for lunch.  

In the evening, it is our Slim Win online chat, always good fun.

I've started the border of the blanket and, while I like the actual border, I don't like the corners at all.  They feel clunky and just not right although, to be fair, that might be just the way I am working them.  I think I am going to frog back (not difficult, just tedious) and rework it.  

Today, I remember my lovely Dad who passed away today, four years ago.

Miss you, Dad.  

Bye, all.  Have a lovely Thursday - any exciting plans?  xx

25-06-25

Hello again, everyone.  How are things?

Today's garden photos - it looks like the runner beans are here to stay, doesn't it?  Excellent!

Really looking forward to runner beans for dinner an maybe a month's time.

Thank you all for your lovely comments about the blanket.   Here's the link to Anita's site so you can see what else she has created.  

https://madebyanita.co.uk/

I really love 'Grace' but it would take so much yarn - I suppose I could make it totally random with scraps and rename it 'Graceless' instead!  In other words, quite a different vibe but it would be nice, all the same.  Or take the basic idea and adapt it - I've long wanted to make something with flower grannies of various kinds.  Now that's a thought!!   Hmmmm . . .

I had a lovely time yesterday.  The time was put back a bit which was great because it gave me more time after Groove to freshen up, change and then catch the bus instead of taking the car.  It worked in so many ways, including giving me a walk there and back to the bus and an opportunity to get a few things in town.

Leonie took me through the new features of the Thermomix 7 before cooking lunch (chicken, pepper and mushroom risotto, absolutely delicious) to show case one of the main new features.  We also had some gazpacho, made earlier and I am making that again, often, especially when the garden tomatoes are glutting.

And yes, I did order a new machine.   No, I don't need it and am in full self justification mode now - you know what I'm like!  I don't go for the latest in things like phones, games, cars even but I'm afraid I am a sucker for my Thermione and always will be.  So there you go - as the plaque I have says, 'Retired, happy and spending the kids' inheritance.
And it's making me very happy - what a frivolous girl I am, to be sure!

(there's a ten week waiting list so September is the month!)

On the way back to the bus stop, I went to Grape Tree to stock up with mixed seeds and extra pumpkin seeds because Beth and I both love them.  I found a really nice top, reduced, in the Quadrant (aka co-op) and the superb herb and spice and all things nice stall (not its real name but it should be) gave me some dried apricots, some oats and a jar of preserved lemons.

What is also making me happy is that I have a double dose of classes today.  Circuits this morning and personal training this afternoon.  Yesterday, I was bouncing my way through Groove and enjoying it very much when the realisation came to me that even a year ago, I would have been feeling somewhat worn out by then and clock watching a bit.  Now - not at all.  It's nice to see concrete signs of progress.

Right, well, I have some sourdough that needs its second slap and fold (I always want to say 'slap and tickle'!) so I will close this down and get going.
Wishing everyone a very happy Wednesday.  Stay cool!  xx

24-06-25

Morning, everyone.
Oh, what a lovely night's sleep!  It was cool enough to snuggle under the covers and warm enough to stop my feet getting cold.  Wonderful.
And, as if that wasn't enough, I've woken to rain.  Not loads, admittedly, but better than nothing at all and everything looks greener.  Lovely!

Done it!  It needs a light steam press (must read the ball band instructions) along the seams and there is one more mistake that I just didn't notice until it was all joined together and I'm not going to unpick all of that, I really am not!!!  Look upon it in the same way that those lovely Eastern carpets have an error woven into them because only Allah is perfect (I've always liked that one).  Admittedly, my mistake is not deliberate or so swell motivated but we won't talk about that, OK!

I think my crochet tension must be very loose.  Not only did I have to buy more duck egg blue for the border, I'm also down to the last scraps of cream and won't have enough for the one more round that is needed.  Fortunately, I have cream upstairs.  Not the same cream but that won't matter as it's a separate bit.

No harm done (I hope).

Today is busy.

Groove first and I'm driving there today, partly because it's wet and partly because I need to hurry back, freshen up, change and rush out again because I'm due in town for a demo of the new Thermomix TM7.  

These demos used to be done in homes but now the local group of consultants has a little place where they can demo various things.  Leonie will (I think) show the new machine, demo the new and changed features and then cook a meal which we can enjoy.  I haven't seen Leonie for years so it will be nice to meet up again - she has always been 'my' Thermomix consultant.

Well, time is tight so I need to stop waffling and get going
Have a great day.  xx

23-06-25

Morning, all - and I am breathing a heartfelt sigh of relief.  It's cooler, we have a breeze and the stuffiness is dissipating.   I don't think we're done with the heat yet - BBC says Wednesday might be a scorcher - but as long as there's a breeze and the humidity is low, that's OK! 

Just a pretty sight to brighten up the post - aren't pansies a lovely flower?  This plant survived the winter and is now blooming its little heart out.  So lovely!

We had a very pleasant time yesterday, thank you for all the kind comments.  To be fair, it wasn't really a 'meet the mum' thing; as I said yesterday, I've known Ree for a while online.  Annabeth, it's Rita Wlliams - I'm sure you remember her.

I now have lots of leftovers to make my meal prep an easy thing today.

That was the main event yesterday, of course, but I did settle with some more crochet and, just as I thought I was on the last lap of the last square, I discovered mistakes in previous squares.  So the evening was spent carefully unpicking and redoing.  A bit frustrating but at least discovered now, not during the joining or, even worse, after finishing.  I'm hoping to get the last square finished this evening and also the joining.  Then I can start the border which looks complicated so I will watch the video a few times before starting and then crochet along with it - which is what CAL means - Crochet ALong.

I have a busy morning.  No circuits for me today as I am off into school wearing my governor's hat to discuss phonics with the relevant member of staff.  Oh, the joy!!

Seriously, I enjoyed phonics teaching and felt it a very worth while area of the teaching of reading/spelling.  I think I will be talking to the staff member about how the school approaches it, going through the objectives on the School Improvement Plan (must check what they are!) and then observe some phonics teaching in Y1.
I think it's going to be fun.

Then I will get straight down to writing my report while things are fresh in my mind.  I don't want it hanging on as I have the SEND one next week.

I'll be going to the Wednesday circuits class instead.

After that, it's the usual Monday housework before chilling.

Better go and deal with what's left of yesterday's chicken, get the slow cooker going to make stock and generally start the day.  What are your plans for today?  I hope they are nice.  
Take care and have a great day.  xx

22-06-25

Hi.  Welcome to Sunday, last day of the week and tomorrow begins the last week of June - how is that possible.

Yesterday was hot but, for me, not terribly oppressive until later afternoon when it turned a bit gloomy and the humidity descended.  You could almost touch it; my skin turned all prickly and it really was uncomfortable.  We had a few drops of rain, so few you could almost count them, the worst of the humidity lifted and the sun came out again.  I guess somewhere close by got a downpour.  Not us though!

Today's garden photos.

Both cucumber plants have flowers but they look like males.  I looked them up - Cucumber Telegraph is the type - and gather that if the insects are not around, it might be a good idea to pollinate them by hand but we will see.   The original ones I bought would have produced all female flowers but not these - oh well, as I said, we will see. 

Just a few blueberries and I plan to have them this evening to go with maple and bacon pancakes (how American!)

I've been busy this morning.  Beth and her 'new' girlfriend, Ree, and Alex are over for Sunday lunch.  I have known Ree online longer than Beth as we were both on FirstClass, the OUSA conferencing site.  However, this is in the nature of a 'meet the girlfriend/mother' type thing so I'm a bit nervous.  I expect Ree is too.
Anyway, I've prepped all the veg and it's roast chicken so no worries and easy once the prepping ia done.  I just want to tidy up a bit and sweep the carpet and that's it.  

Right, well, I'd better go.  I want to feed the tomatoes as they are now producing babies galore, and that's going to take time.
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  See you tomorrow.  xx

21-06-25

Morning, all, and welcome to another Saturday, lovely, sunny and fresh right now and the pollen seems lower - at least, I've been out watering, tying up, etc, and haven't sneezed once.  It won't last but I'm loving it while it's here.

It looks like they have decided to stay - this was taken yesterday and I swear they are at least an inch taller today, happily winding around the canes.

I'm definitely not trying seeds again.  Sorry, real gardeners, but buying babies in the amount I need is much more economical and less stressful!

And looky-look!  Tomorrow, do you think?

Question:  eat or freeze?

Answer:  What a very silly question!!  😁

I love this time when everything is growing but still looks 'tidy'.

Even my ornamental grass is just starting to send up its flowers - not that they look like flowers but you know what I mean.

Yesterday was, as almost always, a lovely day.

It was nice and cool when I walked to SW, the hall wasn't hot (it can be awful!) and the walk home was OK too.  I made a 100% rye sourdough loaf - solid, of course, as rye bread is, but it looked and smelled lovely.  It's in the freezer now, out of temptation's way!

I also soaked and then slow cooked some chick peas - they are also now in the freezer apart from one portion that I'm going to make crunchy chickpeas with, for Beth.

There's nothing in the diary today although I will probably join Lindsey's 9:15 SET class online.  Then I can tick today's exercise target off.
I need to do some freezer sorting, I have a drawer to tidy and I want to make some seeded crackers, also for Beth (and Alex, if he likes them).
I have Beth and co over for lunch tomorrow so I want to give downstairs a bit of a clean up

Then I can chill.  Nice!!

Stay cool, everyone . . . have a wonderful Saturday.  xx

20-06-25

Good morning. - and guess what - yup, we have sunshine.  Very hazy, early morning sunshine.  It's not hot yet but the air is completely still and it doesn't feel fresh this morning.  Oh, well, what will be, will be and the garden seems happy enough.

The fifteen minutes of Strike I did yesterday morning was comfortable enough but by the time we got to the afternoon, it was hot and Groove was sweaty and tiring.  But we did it and I'm very glad we did.  Even Lindsey was a little bouncier than usual, bless her.  How she does it, I'll never work out!

I'm working out timings for my loaves now.  I know that if I get the leaven started in the evening, it will be ready in the morning and, in this heat, the whole loaf will be done by early afternoon.  It would be slower in cooler weather, of course.

I've just mixed a rye leaven and will be interested in the timing of that - Chris and Steve really like rye bread after living in Germany for a number of years.

The white I made for Lindsey worked out fine and I took it over yesterday.  
I'm so glad I have friends who like sourdough bread - it means I can practise more.

Getting there!  3x3 and it will be 4x4.  I've actually got five more to finish, having done the centre and white sections of them all.  That was the easy bit!

I really don't like carrying the yard across the back, either in crochet or in knitting; it's very fiddly and frustrating and the yarns tangle but it has to be done.

Today, there is very little in the diary.  Slimming World first thing, as always, then I am going to have a go at one of Adriene's yoga videos, a really 'easy' one, and then the day's my own.  I think some meal planning and I am going to buy one of the new recipe books out from SW as lots of people say there's some great recipes.  It's called Street Food which sounds tasty.

And I have a rye loaf to have a go at - if it takes longer, there's always the fridge overnight.

Since I started this, a breeze has picked up and it feels fresher - lovely!  I'd better stop rambling and get on with my morning Facebook duties.   Have a lovely day, stay cool and remember to refill the water bottle.  :-)  xx

19-06-25

 Morning!  More sunshine, yay!

Something very nice happened a few days ago. I was sent a photo that I couldn't share and one that I could but it wouldn't really work on its own.

To go back some years, after Dad died and his estate was all sorted out, I made a donation to the school that was for something that would benefit the staff.  Time passed, the project was decided but other work had to be done first and that needed funding so, one way and another, nothing was done for quite a while.
But now it is completed and is being used . . .

And here it is - a private area where staff can rest and relax, just at the back of the staff room. 

I couldn't show you the first photo because it has people on it but I was in school yesterday afternoon for that OPAL training so I snatched a photo.

Knowing it was done and people like it and are using it has made me very, very happy but this was what brought a few tears to my eyes.  Look what they have called it . . .

Isn't that nice.  

Lindsey did circuits inside as it really was very hot and she has said Groove will also be inside today.  It's still sweaty but the studio is a cool space so it will be much more comfortable.

So the day has started with a bit of dough stuff, I will do a short section of SET online with Lindsey before coffee and chat with Chris and in the afternoon I'll be off to Groove Not In The Garden!!

A nice day.

How about you?  xx

18-06-25

Morning, all.  More sunshine, more open windows and doors.  It's so nice to get the fresh air flooding in each morning before it gets hotter.  I've done my usual wander around the garden, tying up tomatoes and cucumbers, noting what needs deadheading and watering what needs watering.  Very energising!

Thank you for all your comments yesterday regarding yoga.  They were very helpful and informative and I appreciated the advice.
The thing is, I'm not looking to start a new kind of exercise.  I already do two dance aerobics, one or two circuits and personal training each week plus the occasional other class and have no wish to draw back from any of them.  I just wanted something small and different, shorter and that could be done in the odd fifteen or thirty minutes at home.  Going weekly to a proper class isn't really what I envisioned either in terms of time or finance.
I asked Lindsey if she did yoga at all, in case she could slot a bit into my personal training but she doesn't.  She gave me a name and contact address but I'll have a talk to her (Lindsey) when I next have the chance.

Groove was really good yesterday although we were all hot and sweaty by the end.  The walk back was refreshing.  It was warm but there was a pleasant breeze.

The late afternoon training was very much better than expected.  I should have known - Sarah and Natalie are both really good at what they do.  Sarah talked about how the trust allocates the overall budget to each school in a way that even I could understand and Natalie covered the basics of how our Trust schools assess and test and what all the different data means, focusing particularly on what we, as governors, need to understand and the way we can use the data to support, question and challenge.  Very, very helpful.
It wasn't entirely new to me, of course, although things have moved on since I retired, and it does sounds a lot better than previously.

I can't go to PT this afternoon so Lindsey invited me to the morning circuits class so I'll be popping off to that in a while, before doing the usual houseworky stuff.

Later this afternoon I have more governor training, this time school based.  It it about Outdoor Play And Learning (OPAL), something I am interested in and it is in staff meeting time so I will be walking round to school then.

With all that going on, I had better stop rambling and get going, hadn't I?  Have a lovely day and stay safe and well.  xx

17-06-25

Morning, everyone.  It's another lovely bright start to the day with promise of warmth and sunshine all day.  They predict that it will get quite hot (hot for the UK, I mean) this week so I've dug out all the fans and there's one in the living room (trained on my chair, of course), one in my bedroom and one in the garden room.  That's me sorted!

(The photos, just taken and quite random, are there to break up the text!!)

Yesterday was good and productive.
I fed Squeak as she was looking a bit fragile and realised that there's an awful lot of discard that needed using so yesterday I made a batch of neutral pancakes (not crepes and not sweet or savoury) that are now wrapped, stacked and in the freezer and this morning I have just made a batch of pikelets, basically flat crumpets made like pancakes rather than in the rings that give them the height.  They smell great and will sort out some breakfasts or lunches nicely!  They're just cooling before I wrap them and freeze them.
That's sorted out the excess discard and when Beth and Alex get their new freezer, I can dump at least half onto them!

Circuits was, as expected, in the garden.  It was a bit hot, I have to say, but fun all the same.  I got all the planned housework done and dusted which gets me out of doing much today!

I had a go at a 'beginners' yoga video.  Beginners my foot!!  Well, it might have been but I am obviously pre-beginner - my legs just don't DO that!!  So I found a shorter one which was just manageable and will see if I can get better at that before moving on.  Do any of you do yoga - the exercise part, not the meditation?  How do you find it - does it help?  

As usual, it's Groove first thing and I plan to  walk there and back; Chris' back is still fragile so she's not going so it won't be as much fun walking, but it is so good for me!  😇  I must dig out my sunhat and get the protection into my bag.

I see I have 'wash windows' down on my list and there's a cupboard in the kitchen that contains things I haven't used for absolutely ages and are just taking up space so that's also on the list.

(still alive!!)

This afternoon, there's a Governors' training session with the other schools in our academy trust.  It's in Bocking which is north of Braintree but I'm getting a lift with L. so that's nice.  There's another, different training session tomorrow but that's just down the road so no problems.

Two things to put down on my training record which gets me off the hook until next term.

So a nice, busy day ahead.  Bring it on!  :-)   Have a lovely day, everyone, and remember the sun cream and the water.  xx

16-06-25

Morning, everyone.  A new week starts and it's going to be great weather, I believe.  No arguments from me.

Yesterday was very restful.  I got the loaf done, baking it in the evening and letting it cool, wrapped in a muslin, overnight.  Baking break does smell so very amazing!

I noticed these at the back of the clump of raspberry canes.  They are really autumn fruiting but the canes were new in and one had some shoots coming out of the side (which I should have trimmed off but didn't) so they are fruiting earlier.  There's only a few and all the canes will be cut back to soil level early next spring anyway so it will be autumn for them all next year.

This is a part of what the trellis blanket will look like when the squares are joined together.  I do think it's going to look really lovely 4x4 and a with a border.

My innards feel much steadier this morning.  It wasn't bad, just not right so fingers crossed.

Today starts with circuits at Lindsey's and then it's the downstairs housework as usual on Mondays.  It never takes ages and looks so nice when it's all done.

I also need to mow what passes for a lawn and do some weeding after which I can read and crochet.  Should be really nice.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Enjoy the sunshine and remember your water.  xx

15-06-25

Good morning, all.  This morning I am thinking of everyone who has lost their father, one way or another.  It's another week or so until Dad passed away but it's close enough that I can remember him with great affection and an ongoing sense of loss, like many of us.
I'm thinking of you all.

After some rain to start the day, yesterday ended up beautiful.  I went on the walk with David and Karen to the coffee shop and back, chatting non-stop all the way.  Then I went home, got two loads of washing done, dried and ironed (must put them away today), made a load of bread (yeasted, not sourdough) and did plenty of crochet.  In the evening, I caught up with some old Who Do You Think You Are programmes and then watched some Time Team videos on YouTube.  Very enjoyable.

My definition of an easy day is a day when I do whatever I choose to do rather than what I need to do.  They might end up the same but not necessarily.  Yesterday was an easy day!

This is one of the Trellis blanket squares.  I could block it but don't need to as the overall blanket will shape the squares nicely.

This is the only one I have finished but I have done the other fifteen to the end of the white rounds.  I need to redo one because I made a right mess of the last bit and frogging is not an option as I had sewn all the ends thoroughly in!
Not to worry, put it down to experience and sewing the ends as you go is a very good habit to have.  Many a good project has not been finished because of those ends!

I was thinking about Jackie's comment - her garden produce is not doing so well this year due to fire smoke filtering the sun and warmth - and looking at my tomatoes.  It's odd how two pretty much identical tomato plants can be growing so differently.  Same size pot, same soil, same everything apart from type and one looks much healthier than the other.  

It doesn't show well on this photo but those blueberries have a distinctly blue hint to them now.  

It's always worth getting a few trays of bedding plants.  These look lovely!

And this is where I plan to sit (and doze, probably) later on today!  

Before then, I have started a leaven off in hopes that the warm weather will bring it on by about two o'clock.  Then I should be able to finish a sourdough loaf before bedtime - I hope so as I want to take it to Lindsey tomorrow.

I'd like to give the kitchen a thorough clear up - little things get left in corners rather than being put away and it gets to the point where they are just in the way.  Half an hour, that's all it will take.  Then I can give it all a good wipe over right into the corners.  That will feel good.

It can stay like that too for today  because I'm going to fast today.  As I said on my other blog, by tum has just been a bit 'unsettled'. nothing bad, and I think a reset day will help.  Plenty of liquids, of course, just not food.  I'll have a light meal this evening and see if that works.  I think it will.

Anyway, if you are having celebrations with the dads in your life today, have a lovely time.

See you tomorrow.  xx

14-06-25

Morning, all!  It's Saturday and we have had rain so it feels much fresher again, thank goodness.  The sun was shining but it's clouding over a bit so I wonder if there's more to come.  However, the forecast is for sunshine all day and then ongoing through the week.  Just as long as it isn't humid; that's what really bothers me.  It suddenly hit yesterday late afternoon and I developed quite a headache from it.  Not nice at all.

I have no idea if we had those predicted storms overnight.  One of the advantages of hearing loss is that storms don't wake me and I have blackout curtain linings so the lights wouldn't be that bright either.

Yesterday was lovely.  Slimming World first and then Alex came round for his lesson and lunch.  He asked me how to make my semi frozen fruit and yogurt dessert so that's what we did - very easy and very tasty.

He can't come next week but the following Friday we're going to have a go at a sausage and bean casserole using veggie sausages so Beth can have it too.  Hopefully, he will go home with some to pop in the freezer too.

This morning, I took a few more photos of the same things - runner beans and tomatoes.  Sorry!!

They have definitely 'taken' and today I need to thin them out just a bit.

I'm getting quite a lot of mini-tomatoes showing now to go with my mini chilli pepper.  

Also, the corn is still growing fine, the cucumbers are still alive and as for the blueberries - they are just starting to live up to their name as there's definitely a blueish tint to them.  Yay.

Today, I have to get to Morrisons early as I have discovered that I am right out of hay fever tablets.  The rain seems to have settle the pollen for now but that won't last long and it is at its worst at the moment. 

After that, it's on to Tower Garden to meet up with David and Karen for our walk.  Looking forward to that.

I'll do a bit of gardening, I think, but, generally, I'm going to chill for the rest of the day. 

What are your plans?  xx

13-05-25

Morning, everyone!  How are you all today.  Friday already - it seems no time at all since I was packing for my weekend away!!

A bit of a garden update:

The runner beans are in.   - there's far too many  as there were about six beans in each of six compartments and they were so hard to separate so I did what I could and will see which are strongest and cut the others back.  The first to climb the pole wins, as it were.

(That tiny one on the left is from my sowing - such a difference)

I have pretty much decided I will do it this way from now on.  The tray of plantlets was cheaper than the packet of seeds of which hardly any actually germinated - no idea why not!  I know you don't get the variety choices  but I'd rather have consistency.
Mind you - who is to say I won't kill them off anyway!

The pepper in front to the right seems happy enough!

Not terribly pretty cucumbers but they still live and they've grown a bit.  We will see . . .

Chris and I sat out in the garden to have our coffee and chat and it really was very pleasant with the bees buzzing around the flowers.  The foxgloves seem to be great insect attractors which is nice.

When she had gone, I got the beans in and then started hacking chunks off a shrub with some loppers Chris and Steve have lent me.  It's going to look awful in the shorter term but should, I hope, send out growth from lower down.  It was just too big for the bed.

I also cut one of the rosemary bushes right back to ground and will have a go at digging out some of the roots today.  I don't need that much rosemary and it would be nice to have something a bit different there.

(and I just caught the brown bit collecting with the trimmings, yay)

At Groove, I was the only one there in person with someone on line as well.  It felt  bit odd at first but then Jen turned up late so there were two of us.  It was very humid so we did it inside, thankfully.

That was yesterday.  Today, I will be doing my bit at Slimming World and then Alex is coming over for lunch.  Should be good.  

Happy Friday, everyone.  Stay cool and hydrated!  xx

12-06-25

Good morning (it is still morning, just), everyone.  Sorry I'm late - I overslept and had stuff that needed doing.  

Yesterday went well and I got some stuff done.  Not all of it but there's always today - or tomorrow!!

Downstairs is in decent nick again, the cucumber plantlets are still alive, the loaf turned out really well and I also went out and did my fortnightly shop (I hope).  I really only needed to get some milk and some salad stuff but decided I may as well get it all done while I was there.  So I did.  Ouch.  But I'm now stocked up with things like washing up liquid, washing machine liquid, and all the sort of stuff and it is all sitting in the garden room cupboard until needed.  

So today - I've had coffee and chat with Chris and now I'm getting the runner beans out, finishing the ironing, finishing my bedroom and going to Groove in the Garden this afternoon.

Nice.

Just a short update today and wishing you a good day too.  xx

11-05-25

Good morning again, peoples!  How's life?  Yesterday's weather was definitely a day of two parts.  It rained on and off in the morning but we had some sunshine later on.  I had, of course, hung out my washing before going to Groove so there wasn't much I could do about that but by the end of the day it was nice and dry and still looked clean (it was a white wash) so that's OK.

Groove was really good, as usual.  Because I had done all that activity stuff at Five Lakes, I wasn't as stiff as I usually am the first class after the weekend.  I took some jeans with me to change into so I was able to drive straight on to Marriages where I stocked up with bread flour - white, wholemeal and, three cheers, dark wholemeal rye.  On the back of that last, there's a recipe for honey and oat rye bread which I would really like to try.  Not today though because, now I have some wholemeal again, I've started a sourdough loaf for Beth which I can get on with in between all the other bits and bobs I have to do.

Then, because I was around that way, I stopped off at B&Q/Longacres.  AT B&Q, there were pretty much only the reject cucumbers left, most of which were useless with no growing shoots, just stems, but I got lucky and found a couple that, with care, should be OK.  In fact, they look pretty good this morning and, reduced to £1 each, I haven't lost that much should they not thrive.

I didn't need to go into Longacres, but I did and came out with a whopping big bar of chocolate for the children next door who watered my garden while I weas away and - ooops - a tray of runner bean plants.
Of course, as I said to the lady at the checkout, now I have these, the seeds I planted will get their act together and start coming up and I will have too many.  They weren't expensive though, cheaper than the pack of seeds.  We will see but I suppose better to have too many than none at all.

Then it was home, sweet home, where I was - er - let's call it 'restful' and got on with loads of crochet while catching up with weekend telly.

Which means today is busy, but that's OK.

Today I have . . .

circuits and then personal training at Shimmy Studios (PT is usually afternoon but I am going to a catch-up-from-Monday circuits class and Lindsey said she could do PT straight afterward to save me making two journeys)

a loaf to bake

ironing

finances to catch up on 

a bedroom to sort out (again)

a downstairs (including the kitchen) to dust and sweep (it's quite tidy, for once)

and some plants to get outside

It's actually quite a nice mix, I think, and should work wonders for my step count.  I would really like to get it all done today so I probably will.  Then, and only then, I can crochet and read, etc - maybe in the garden, weather and pollen permitting - my hay fever is bad at the moment which is annoying!  :-)

Well - time for some first stretch and folds so I will love you and leave you.  Wishing you a very good day with not too many sneezes!
Take care.  xx

10-06-25

Hello, everyone.  I'm writing this back at home as life gets back to normal and I'm back to the usual timetable of stuff.  We've had variable weather over the weekend and it looks to be dry but not sunny most of the day.  OK for getting the washing out though, so that's good.  In fact - hang on, I'm going to get a load in right now . . .

. . . there we go, a load in so it should be done so I can get it on the line before Groove.

After the last breakfast yesterday, I set off to find Mandy's house using the trusty sat nav which took me all round the houses but got me there.

We walked into Maldon (not far) to a place called the Continental cafe which had seating inside and outside on a lovely little square at the back . . .

. . . like this . . .

. . . with pretty plants and . . .

. . . beautiful hanging baskets that put mine to shame.

The coffee was pretty good too and the company was absolutely the best.

It was so nice to meet up with someone I've chatted to online and we seemed to get on really well.  We'll be meeting up again in July and I'm looking forward to it.

Maldon is one of those old towns with interesting buildings and alleyways plus the estuary, of course.

I'm thinking of spending a few days there - there's plenty of B&Bs, etc, plus a Travelodge and Mandy could tell me the interesting places to visit.

Anyway, later on I headed off home, unpacked, put one load of washing in and went into the garden.
The tomatoes seem to be doing great, there's a couple of runners coming up at long, long last, the baby corn is surviving, the chilli pepper has plenty of flowers and one teeny-tiny little pepper but those poor cucumbers - the second one has collapsed and the third, the biggest, seems to be going the same way.  I've looked it up and it says overwatering (???).  OK - hmmm, no idea why but there you go.  I'm leaving the one that still has hope and we will see.  I suppose I could just go to B&Q/Longacres and see if there are any more plants available - I'll see how I feel later.  It's a bit late really.

I received an email from Ray and Jam who organises the coach trips, saying that the date of the Edinburgh trip has to be changed for very good reason.  It's now three weeks later, at the beginning of December.  That clashes with another trip but they will try to sort that out too.  Poor them, it's not their fault and it must be an absolute nightmare.  Remember, this isn't a business, they do it as a voluntary community thing  and they do it very well indeed.

It is back to the normal timetable today.  It's Groove first thing; Chris is still being careful with her back and won't be coming.  I think I will take some jeans to change into afterwards and drive on to Marriages as I need some more bread flour and, because I am that side of town, I could pop into the aforementioned garden places, just to see.

Then it will be home to do some housework, ironing, and so on.  A normal day.  Have a good one, everybody!  xx