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.
Monday, 30 June 2025
30-06-25
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.
Sunday, 29 June 2025
29-06-25
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.
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!
Saturday, 28 June 2025
28-06-25
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.
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.
They're outside and the insects are obviously getting their act together so I will water, feed and let them be.
I suppose it's not not-easy, but now there is stuff in the diary.
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
Friday, 27 June 2025
27-06-25
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.
Thursday, 26 June 2025
26-06-25
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.
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.
Wednesday, 25 June 2025
25-06-25
And it's making me very happy - what a frivolous girl I am, to be sure!
Wishing everyone a very happy Wednesday. Stay cool! xx
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
24-06-25
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!
Have a great day. xx
Monday, 23 June 2025
23-06-25
I think it's going to be fun.
Take care and have a great day. xx
Sunday, 22 June 2025
22-06-25
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.
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone. See you tomorrow. xx
Saturday, 21 June 2025
21-06-25
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
Friday, 20 June 2025
20-06-25
I'm so glad I have friends who like sourdough bread - it means I can practise more.
Thursday, 19 June 2025
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 . . .
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
18-06-25
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.
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.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
17-06-25
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!
Monday, 16 June 2025
16-06-25
Sunday, 15 June 2025
15-06-25
I'm thinking of you all.
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!
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!
It's always worth getting a few trays of bedding plants. These look lovely!
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.
Saturday, 14 June 2025
14-06-25
I'm getting quite a lot of mini-tomatoes showing now to go with my mini chilli pepper.
Friday, 13 June 2025
13-05-25
Mind you - who is to say I won't kill them off anyway!
Thursday, 12 June 2025
12-06-25
Wednesday, 11 June 2025
11-05-25
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.
Take care. xx
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
10-06-25
. . . beautiful hanging baskets that put mine to shame.
Maldon is one of those old towns with interesting buildings and alleyways plus the estuary, of course.
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.
Monday, 9 June 2025
09-06-25
Good morning, everyone, the last good morning from Five Lakes for a little while. I don't want to leave but, at the same time, I am looking forward to getting home again.
Yesterday weas lovely. I may not have managed to do everything I ought to have done but I did, ate and drank what I wanted to and that's good.
The Wake Up and Stretch class started late and was longer than I thought so there really wasn't time for a swim and all the showering, hair drying, etc, that goes on afterwards, so I chilled in the lounge, enjoying the quizzes, etc, and taking part in the keypad quiz before lunch.
After lunch I went for a little walk outside to settle my tum before having a lovely swim and a soak in the jacuzzi. Then I did the line dancing class which was led by the girl who did the dancercise on Saturday and was really good fun. Basic but good and, given I tend to fell over my own feet, I think I did pretty well.
Then it was getting time to get changed and have dinner before I went down to the Glade Theatre for some liver music, a bit of audience participation game stuff and the show, all of which I really enjoyed.
A very full day and I had such a good time.
I took a few photos.
There's lots of little outside spaced for having a drink/chilling all round the main hotel.A view of the golf course.
Taken just because they were there . . .
As well as the hotel, there are some separate rooms called The Village. No different, just separate from the main building. They do look nice.
The entrance.
and roast beef, etc, for dinner.
Sunday, 8 June 2025
08-06-25 - day 2 at Five Lakes
(not great light though)
And I got this which is hardly a view! I don't think anyone is recognisable, do you?
. . . followed by halloumi and bean tacos. Very nice indeed.
And I had hunter's chicken for dinner. Lovely chicken and the sauce was delish but where's the cheese on top? More beans and fewer chips would have been nice but I am nit-picking here. It was delicious!
I enjoyed several quizzes, had some me time reading and doing a bit of crochet, had a little nap after lunch (goodness, I really am getting old) and, generally, thoroughly enjoyed the day. I didn't go for any outside walks as the weather was pretty unpredictable. Cloudy and humid at times although I don't think we had any storming. Today looks much more like it!