Sunday

 Morning, everyone.  Happy Sunday and last-day-of-August/summer, depending on the dates you go by.   It's another fine start to the day, like yesterday although, unlike yesterday, BBC thinks it will stay fine all day round here.  Here's hoping!

First of all, Annabeth, thank you so much for the burger bun recipe.  It made eight of the softest, most delicious smelling burger buns I have ever made.  I didn't taste one but I can tell they will be fab.  They're for Beth and Alex so they're now in the freezer but I will make them again and experiment with upping the wholemeal flour and lowering the white.

And bonus - they are pretty large - I think I could get twelve decent sized rolls from the same recipe.

As for the other ones, I cut off a wee slice and they're OK, despite my misgivings.  A fairly closed crumb but they will be fine for packed lunches on my coach trips, they really will.  They're big so perfect for triple decker rolls!  So no grumbles.

I went shopping again yesterday - two days in a row is not good.  However, I got a reminder from Morrisons that if I spent another £30 before the end of August, I would get 3,000 smart points (which equals £3 as part of a voucher) so I dug out my new month shopping list which has things like washing up liquid, loo rolls, that sort of thing, stuff that I needed and was going to buy soon anyway.
So perhaps it was not 'not good' after all.

I got my washing done and line dried before the rain started so that was good.

Today, Beth and Alex are over for Sunday using-up-stuff-in-the-freezer lunch.  Beth's having bean and veg crumble with a topping from the freezer while Alex and I will make inroads into pots of left-over roast lamb.  Plus the usual sides, of course.  It should be nice.
It's all ready and prepped, as I like to do  first thing in the morning.  It means I can spend more time with B and A when they arrive instead of disappearing into the kitchen and just lightens the load considerably.

Apart from that, I will probably do the ironing later on and that will be that.  A pleasant, slow sort of day.  Fine by me.
See you tomorrow, everyone.  xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another weekend, the last in August.  My goodness, it rained round here yesterday morning - with bells on!  People turned up at Slimming World more than a little bit damp and it was still chucking it down when group finished.  It did clear up later and the garden has had what it needed, a thorough soaking.  It looks nice this morning and I've just taken my dressing gown off because I'm feeling warm so here's hoping for a pleasant day today.

The house is smelling all cosy and warm right now because I've just made a batch of 'quick rolls' using Thermione and Nellie.  Now, I am not expecting great things from the rolls - they were VERY quick and cut out the rising and proving stages which I'm not sure I approve of really! 
Also, I need to think about baking bread in the air fryer - I think I need to add a little bowl of water in one corner to get some steam going - must check that one . . .
However, it was a try and if I ever need fresh bread at an hour's notice, I have a recipe!

What I 'need' is a wholemeal burger roll recipe and the only one on Cookidoo is a brioche recipe which I am sure is lovely but not the sort of thing either Beth or I should be eating.  I must search more widely and adapt for Thermione.  

Maybe 'need' is the wrong word - 'want' is probably better.

I've confirmed the boiler work with Matt and, yes, he can fit a small radiator in the airing cupboard.   I guess I also need to get in touch with Seth to ask if he can fit some shelves.   I have a sneaky feeling it is something I ought to be able to do but I have neither the tools nor the knowledge so  . . .  Or maybe one can buy shelf units made with slats rather than solid?  I feel more searching coming on.

Alex did very well again yesterday.  We went through the instructions and then I just left him to it.  
We've decided that next week is burger week.  Two kinds, one for him and one for Beth.  Beth likes the Jack Monroe carrot, cumin and kidney bean burgers and I have that one in a book so it will be good practise in following a written recipe.  The other will be how I make burgers myself so I must write that down for him.
(This is why I want to make some burger buns - wholemeal ones for a healthier product!)

On to today and it is a stay and chill at home day.  There's washing and, hopefully, line drying, there's a kitchen that could do with a bit of a clean out, there's sheets to change, and there's meal plans to think about.  Oh, and the end of the month finances.

That should keep me gainfully employed for a while, I think.  

Have a lovely day, peoples.  Enjoy the summer while it's still here.  xx

Mushroom stroganoff recipe for Chris and anyone else who is interested.

 This is actually a recipe for a Thermomix and it's here.  I'm not sure if you can actually open it unless you have an account - do let me know.  It's possible that you can access part of the recipe but not all of it.

Anyway - adapted for pan cooking . . .

Ingredients:  to make four good portions

10g fresh parsley leaves  
1 garlic clove, crushed 

200g onions, chopped

30g unsalted butter
600g fresh mushrooms, sliced 
20g tomato purée
40g white wine
80g liquid vegetable stock
1.5 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp fine sea salt or to taste
10 - 20 g lemon juice to taste
100 g double cream

Method.

Finely chop the parsley and set aside.

Place the chopped onions, crushed garlic and butter in a pan and sauté until softened.

Add the mushrooms and continue sautéing until soft, around 5 mins.

Add the tomato puree, wine, stock and mustard with some salt to own taste.  Bring to a simmer and let it bubble for around 8-10 mins, stirring occasionally.

Add lemon juice and cream and reheat to just under boiling, stirring.

Taste, adjust seasoning if necessary (I think I would want to add some black pepper too) and serve with rice (or any carbs of choice really.  Might be nice on jacket potato.

Friday

Good morning, one and all.  Welcome to Friday.

Yesterday started with a drive to Lindsey's for my first personal training session of the new 'year'.  Teachers have two years, the conventional one and the one that starts at the beginning of September for the new school year.  For me, the latter is still almost as significant as the former so, sorry, but this was the first session of the new year!  😁

I expected to struggle a bit but it all came back easier than I expected and I'm not even particularly stiff this morning,  Those video sessions Lindsey provided over the summer have obviously helped.

I so wanted to try the new Thermione on some of the things I always made so, need or not, I set to and made a loaf which is now sliced and in the freezer.  To be fair, I do have a lot of bread products but was running a bit short on sliced bread so . . . 

It's a nice loaf.  I use wholemeal, dark spelt, dark rye and a bit of white flours and add mixed seeds.  Very SW friendly and absolutely delicious and it was fine.  So that's good.  Then I used the varoma to steam runner beans and foil wrapped salmon for dinner and that was fine too.  I don't see why it shouldn't have been fine but - you know . .  and I am still a bit clumsy with the new screen layout.

Today, it is back to 6, Thelma as she is now (blame Beth, not me - she has her mini chopper and her TM5 on the working top and calls them Thelma and Louise!) for Alex to make mushroom stroganoff.  It's a nice recipe and he should enjoy it.

First of all, though, Slimming World and then next door to Morrisons for what I hopefully call a 'small shop'.   Just a normal Friday.

Have a good one too, everyone.  And the weekend is nearly here.  xx

Thursday

Hi again, everyone.

It was 'interesting', making three sourdough loaves - it felt like a lorra dough but it was fine.  I baked two loaves yesterday evening and popped the third, in its banneton, into the fridge.  It's out now, warming up again and then I will bake it.

Yesterday was a very exciting day because my new Thermomix arrived and is now unpacked, connected, updated and ready for action.

They have all come extremely well packed in very sturdy boxes and yesterday was no exception.

Three inner boxes contained the varoma, the bowl (and various gizmos) and the base.

And here they are, side by side, TM6 and TM7, now known as Thermione.

Beth and Alex are taking 6 which is now known as Thelma!

It's staying here for a while because Alex is still having his lessons (mushroom stroganoff on Friday).  They have TM5 and when 6 moves house, Beth is at liberty to sell 5 - they fetch pretty good prices.

So that was most exciting and I spent ages just flicking through and getting used to where everything is.  It's very different!

Now - what to make???

And today is exciting because I'm off to the first personal training of the new season this morning.  I asked Lindsey if the should be resting today and getting over her jetlag after a month in Thailand but it seems she is starting at 7:30 this morning so maybe she expects it to hit later and is getting things over and done early.  The season starts officially on Monday.

I'll take her loaf over and I can also drop Beth's off on the way home afterwards.

No Chris today - she's away for five days and is having a great time according to her message.  Val was coming for lunch but something has come up and family always comes first so no worries, we can arrange any number of new dates.

Summer is pretty much over now.  Fitness classes resume and it is almost September.  Schools are back next week (round here), the tomatoes are slowing down, as are the runner beans while the baby corn is fruiting faster - I think there are three to pull today and they will add to what I am having for dinner.  Exciting times, eh?

It's time I started thinking ahead to a certain festive thing in four months.  Things like Blogmas, Twelve Days, etc, etc, etc.  I'm definitely doing the Advent of Change again this year and I think they become available in a month or so.
Planning is a good part of the fun!

Have a lovely day, everyone.   See you tomorrow.  xx

A visit to London - Covent Garden and the Houses of Parliament

 Yesterday, Tuesday, I went on another coach trip with the Broomfield Coach Trips group, this time into London for a couple of hours around Covent Garden and then the afternoon at the Houses of Parliament.

When we left, it was lovely and sunny but it clouded over and we drove through some fairly heavy rain.  It was still drizzly when we got off outside Jamie Oliver's eating place on Catherine Street (no, I didn't, but one day I will) but it soon dried up and the rest of the day was fine and, sometimes, sunny.

I've been to Covent Garden before - it seems to be a favourite 'use up some time' destination for the group, so I knew where to go and what to expect.  It doesn't change - some up-market-ish little shops, some craft stalls and an awful lot of tourist overpriced 'stuff'.  I took some photos . . .

They haven't really uploaded in the right order but not to worry - here's a rather supercilious turtle statue. . .

. . . and the full version.

It is part of the Tusk Turtle Trail:  I quote . . .

Featuring 16 life-sized turtle sculptures displayed across iconic London locations around Covent Garden, each sculpture in the trail is uniquely decorated by globally renowned artists and celebrities including the likes of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood & Dragons' Den entrepreneurs Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.

The trail aims to raise awareness of the threats to marine turtles and the importance of their conservation, the trail aims to raise to use creativity, public art and storytelling for good. 
Here's a link to a YouTube video about it. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNBfCE8pGJU

A very good string sextet, well worth listening to in the flesh.  I video-ed a clip but the sound is terrible - here's the clip but, please, turn the sound off and just watch them - they put on a good show.

Two layers of Covent Garden!

Yes, I did, and very nice it was too.  One scoop of honeycomb ice-cream and we won't mention how much it cost, OK?

A way in and spot another turtle.

I didn't realise this was here until I had spent some time wandering around so didn't really have enough time so, when this next happens and I am booked, this is what I will do.

It didn't stop me buying a few fridge magnets because they were three for two and I wanted two of them.  I got one advertising the museum, a map of the underground and one that seems to be focusing on the future for transport sort of thing.

Se all piled back into the coach and drove the very short distance to the Houses of Parliament.  Given the traffic, it probably would have been quicker to walk but my feet were already killing me so I was glad of the rest and, judging by comments, so were a number of others.  We do all tend to be of the retired genre!

So off we got and walked the short distance to the entrance.

This is a Henry Moore bronze abstract sculpture called Knife Edge Two Piece and it's in College Green Park, the other side of the road from the HoP and with Westminster Abbey in the background.

Some of us walking along, doing our best to stay together.

The whole thing is very imposing and speaks of power, might and money.

There's been a building on or near this site from the time of Canute and Edward the Confessor but very little trace remains.  However, not all that long afterwards, William II (William Rufus, son of the Conqueror) had build the building that is now called Westminster Hall, still the largest royal hall in Europe.  It was original a Royal Palace (it's still called The Palace of Westminster) and was used as such by medieval monarchs until Henry VIII decided it wasn't safe after a fire and decamped down the road to Whitehall Palace - how nice to have that option, eh?

However, it was far more than merely a royal residence.  The exchequer was based there, as were the law courts (Guy Fawkes and Charles I were both tried and condemned in this hall) and the beginnings what morphed over hundreds of years into the parliament we now know was based there too.

We walked past a statue of Richard I, the Lionheart, famed for his warlike and crusading tendencies but, really, a pretty Bad King.

And here's Oliver Cromwell with Big Ben in the background - I mean the Queen Elizabeth Tower, of course; Big Ben is the bell.

We had to go through security, of course - and I mean Security with a capital S.  Basically airport security with guns galore.  No photos of police with guns - I wouldn't dare ask - they looked incredibly fierce and kind of scary, which is fair enough!  It could be a very dangerous job.

Once through Security (very efficient), we ended up in Westminster Hall  where we had to wait until it was our turn.  We were a big group so were split into two and my group went second which gave me time to look round the hall and visit the shop (and loo).

Yes, I got my magnet and I also invested in a couple of official guide books, one of the Palace of Westminster and the other of Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower - because I'm interested and will enjoy reading them at my own leisure.

There was a whole lot of info about previous leading politicians.

Wise words from Charles James Fox, Britain's first Foreign Secretary.
I wish they were followed more today.

Some things never change.  They might have been more witty but politicians have always sniped at each other and, sadly, I guess they always will.

I have to confess, this one made me smile.

One of many stained glass crests/windows

They were improving the lighting in the hall and it made me chuckle that we came all the way from mid Essex to see something from our home town.  Check the words on the side of the lifting machine thingy.

This caught my eye.

There were plenty of other plaques set in the floor.  The late Queen Elizabeth lay in state in this hall of course.

I could take a photo of that because there were too many people standing around covered that plaque.

Apparently, the stone work is Victorian.  It was to protect the original stonework which is behind it.

This was Rose, our guide.  She was fab, really interesting and informative .  She was miked up and we had headphones, something that worried me a bit but I found that by positioning the headphones just above my ears and at the top of the aids, it was as clear as a bell and I heard everything perfectly.  That doesn't always happen.

This was interesting.  It is a modern stained glass window between Westminster Hall and St Stephen's Hall and it is illuminated according to the tides of the River Thames which runs alongside, of course.

This was it looked like at the start of the tour . . .

. . . and at the end, about 75 mins later.

I found this via Google.

On 7 June 2016, 'New Dawn' was unveiled in Westminster Hall. The date marked the 150th anniversary of John Stuart Mill presenting the first mass women's suffrage petition to the House of Commons, to the day.

'New Dawn' is a contemporary artwork by Mary Branson celebrating the long campaign for women's suffrage (the right to vote). It draws on concepts and imagery connected with Parliament and the women's suffrage movement. Among these, the back-lit glass 'scrolls' represent the many individuals and groups involved in the votes for women movement, and incorporate the colours used by women's suffrage organisations. Of particular significance to Branson were the petitions presented to Parliament between 1866 and 1918 - more than 16,000 petitions, containing more than 3 million signatures.

I thought that very interesting.

We passed on through St Stephen's Hall which is on the site of St Stephen's Chapel.  Edward VI (Henry VIII's son, a boy king) gave permission for the Commons to sit in the disused chapel and this continued until a devastating fire in 1834  destroyed most of the medieval palace.  The layout of opposing seats remains the model for both Houses today.

This was the last place we were allowed to take photos.  We were taken through the lobbies, the various areas, into both Houses (very impressive but a lot smaller than one would think, and back out to Westminster Hall to end the tour.  Sorry, no photos but I have a lot of mind pictures of what I have seen.  An odd mixture of tradition, conflict, debate, magnificence, status, class and the very heart of Government in the UK.

I want to go back and do this tour again after a while - there was so much to take in and to look at, one got mentally tired after a while.

The journey home was very slow at first; the streets of London were totally rammed and I truly don't know how they do it - I'd be terrified.  There were loads of those motorised bicycles too, dodging in and out and using their designated lanes sometimes . . .

We went through rain on the way back but it was sunny by the time we stopped.

Such a good trip.  Thanks, Ray, Jan and friends.  And, incidentally, it was so nice to have Ray along, seemingly fully recovered from his health scare.

Back to normal again tomorrow.

 

Wednesday

Just a quick one.  Yesterday was great but I was so tired when I got home that I didn't upload any photos, nor did I start the leaven for the bread - I've done the latter and will sort out those photos later and get it all up either later today or tomorrow at the usual time. 

Annabeth was right - it was such an interesting afternoon - and I got fridge magnets!  Yay.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday, everyone.  xx

Tuesday

Morning, all.  How are you today?   Yesterday started a bit dull but then out came the sun.  I'm hoping today will be the same because it was lovely and warm but a fresh breeze kept it from being too hot.  Just perfect really.

Yesterday, I . . .

. . . finished the freezer audit and typed up the results it's now printed out so I can use it when weekly meal planning.

. . . revised this week's meal plans in the light of the audit.

. . . dead headed the dahlias - there are still so many buds coming along - no early frosts, please, Ms. Weather.

. . . harvested the lavender - it's now all wrapped in a muslin and hanging in the airing cupboard to dry where it will make the towels smell wonderful.  How will I manage when I no longer have an airing cupboard?  Can one dry it quickly using the dehydrate function of the air fryer, I wonder,  Must look that one up.*

. . . made a fish pie for dinner.

. . . did the washing, drying and the ironing.  :-)

. . . and I got an email from the Broomfield Trips organiser, Ray, with new trip dates and the news that people have stepped forward and he has the highest hopes that the group will continue under 'new management'.  Such great news and I have celebrated by booking a trip to Cambridge next March.  😊

Today, I am . . .

. . . going into London to visit the Houses of Parliament and have a tour, organised by Ray and the Broomfield Coach Trips group.  Before the tour, the coach will first drop us off at Covent Garden for a look around before taking us to the  Houses of Parliament.  I'm looking forward to this very much indeed.

I'll take my camera and I will try to do an account of today but it depends how much time I have this evening and how tired I am when I get home.  It might be Thursday rather than tomorrow!

. . . starting a sourdough leaven when I get home.  I have three loaves to make this week and I'm going to try to do them all as one batch.  I have a mega big bowl for the fermenting and, if the leaven is good overnight, I can make all three tomorrow.

It should be a very interesting day.

* Google says yes.  Excellent.

Bank Holiday Monday

Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to Bank Holiday Monday here in England and, I think, also Wales and N Ireland but not Scotland who had theirs a few weeks ago when the children were still off school, I believe.

Actually, although I have the Bank Holiday feeling, it's no different to any other day except that some shops will be busier and, assuming a nice day, the air will be fragrant with barbecue aromas this evening.  It's such a delicious smell!

Project Freezer got off to a good start yesterday.  It sounds awful, but I am always quite shocked (in a positive way) with how much there is there, despite efforts to use things up.  It's like Tantalus and his water, truly it is.  I have no idea how it happens (and if you believe that . . .)

I did the more important and messy bits yesterday - the meat, fish, leftovers, batch meals, bread . . .

Today I can finish with the vegetable trays and the fast freeze section which always gets filled with other stuff.  Then we're done.

It really needs a bit of a defrost but I'm not doing that until the cooler mornings - it is scary how quickly some things start defrosting.

I keep telling myself this ought to be a fortnightly thing or, at the very least, monthly but that doesn't happen.  Maybe if I put it in the diary?

A few garden snaps, taken this morning so terrible light but you get the idea!

Not garden and taken yesterday, a close up of one single, solitary baby corn in my roast dinner plate.  Yes, they have started producing baby corn.  I had one in a salad last week and here's the second.  Not very big but very sweet and delicious.  I don't have many plants so I won't get many babies but I will enjoy what I do get.

The cucumber plants are looking decidedly the worse for wear now, still producing but I feel the end is nigh.  The fruit is more seedy and the skins tougher.

They've been good and I've glad I got more to replace the ones that died.

My sage is gearing up for the colder weather, stuffings, etc.  Must look up some recipes.  

Just very pretty.  I have several dahlias now, nothing special but they are lovely.  I need to take my scissors out and dead head them - the heads just go onto the soil under the leaves to rot down.

The hanging baskets have been great.  One is now very bedraggled now and will be feeding the compost heap soon, I think.  The two on the garden room don't get direct sun so much so are lasting better but I need to consider colour more carefully next year.  This year was a bit grab-what-you-can-afterthought, wasn't it.

I want them to make a real splash of colour next year!

The runners have been great after all the angst early in the season.  I've given away, eaten then nearly every day and have a stash in the freezer.

Another thing I did yesterday was start reviving my starters.  Bubbles and Squeak have been sadly neglected these last weeks.  I didn't need bread, Beth and Alex didn't need bread and Lindsey has been away all August.

However, things are starting to move again - Beth needs a loaf, Lindsey is back soon and I have PT with her on Thursday afternoon and I promised David a loaf for Friday.

However, after the freezer audit, I can say with hand on heart that I DO NOT need any more bread products and I WILL NOT be making any 'just for fun'.

With that in mind, I looked at the jar full of discard in the fridge and, knowing I really didn't need it, Googled for info and then chucked the whole lot on the compost heap because, and I quote . . .

it adds beneficial nutrients and microbes that boost the composting process and improve the soil. The discard is teeming with the very yeasts and bacteria that aid in the breakdown of organic matter, making it a "welcome addition" to a healthy compost pile. 

So now we know.

What I am not doing today is much crocheting because my shoulders are starting to hurt and that's a sign to take it easy.  RSI is a very real thing with these small and repetitive movements crafts and one must be mindful.

Instead, I'll do some more sewing but not until I have finished the freezer project, fed the starters, deadheaded the dahlias, scraped some weeds, done two loads of washing and got them on the line and done the kitchen stuff.

I may not be going anywhere but I won't be bored, that's for sure.  Busy but nicely and productively busy/.  That's my sort of day!  😇

Have a lovely one, everybody, whatever your plans are are and Sue - have a great holiday.  xx

Sunday

Hi again, everyone.  It's feeling quite autumnal outside right now - except for that mysterious slightly 'smoky' smell you get first thing.  That doesn't seem to happen until September.

Inside, I have just finished making my lunchtime soup and the whole of downstairs smells hearty and wholesome - if you know what I mean!

It was a nice, quiet day yesterday.  Nothing very much happened really until the afternoon when I got a request to pay the remained of the money for the Edinburgh trip at the start of December - so I know that is definitely going ahead now.

Today is more of the same but it is definitely operation freezer day.  It really HAS to be done.  So - cold hands and damp paper with lists on but I will be so very glad when it is all done.

That's about it really.  I'm enjoying the peace and quiet and catching up with some recordings and videos.  Life hots up again soon so let's make the most of it.

What do you have planned for the next few days?

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Saturday

Hi, all.  Sorry this is late - I overslept, got stuck into kitchen stuff and forgot the time and then had to go out.  I'm back now so here we go.

Yesterday turned out to be more busy than I expected.  

I went to SW, of course (two pounds off), and then into Morrisons to do my weekly shop;  a bit more expensive than the last few weeks because I had run out of things like ketchup, red wine vinegar, olive oil, etc.

Once that was home and away, I had time to make and eat my lunch before driving round to Beth's.  We took her van into the precinct because of her wheelchair/hoist and trundled into Curry/PC World.   Beth looked at all things laptop while I roamed the kitchen gadgets until she had made her choices.  Bank of Mum then swung into action as this will be her birthday and Christmas presents all rolled into one.  

It is being set up according to Beth's requirements and then she is having a 1:1 for someone to go through everything with her.  I won't be involved in that.  So, well before she has to hand back her work laptop, she will have been able to move across all the training programmes she created, anything that is her 'intellectual' property in plenty of time.

Then we did Hobbycraft, of course.  Beth bought some fabric and I bought the sewing thread I needed.  Finally, we went into Costa for a reviving coffee - something I very rarely do.

So that was yesterday.

Today, I feel economically virtuous.

I blanched some apples for the freezer.

I picked, topped and tailed, strung (stringed?) and sliced some runner beans and they are also in the freezer.

I had four potatoes . . . to go back, last time I needed to buy potatoes, Morrisons didn't have any Maris Pipers, always my first choice, so I got a bag of 'baking potatoes'.  Big mistake - they didn't chip or roast at all well; they went all limp and soggy.  Just not nice.  I have some Maris Pipers now but I had four of the other potatoes to use first.  I have microwaved three of them and wrapped them individually in foil to reheat and crisp up the skin and the fourth I cooked and mashed.  That's in the fridge and I will use it to top a fish pie on Monday - they certainly baked and mashed a lot better than it roasted!!

Now I really must do another freezer audit - I have taken stuff out, put stuff in, and I don't have much idea of what is there really.  And it is all higgledy piggledy and taking up way more room than it really should.

Time to get organised before autumn hits.

Maybe I will start that one this afternoon . . .

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Take care and enjoy the sunshine (assuming you have some - it is lovely here).

See you tomorrow.   xx

Friday

Morning, everyone.  Friday lands, one more week nearly done and we are just one week and a few days away from September.  Oh, my goodness, hasn't August flown?

I'll start with showing off my latest crochet project.  It started from one 'rose' granny square and just grew into this . . .

(poor light, it is brighter and more summary really)

It's bigger than I intended and I did have to buy the main yarn specially but it's my own 'design' (for want of a better word) and I'm really pleased with it.  

I found a new way of doing a border on YouTube . . .

. . . and the rose square was also on YouTube.  I think it's a really pretty granny square.

It has some weight, this throw/blanket so I'm not sure if it will be too heavy for my bed come the colder weather when I want an extra layer but we will see.  It will definitely look great in the garden room next summer anyway.

Now I have to finish the dress I am making before moving on to a top.  I have pattern and fabric all to hand but I do need sewing thread.

So isn't it lucky Beth and I may be walking past Hobbycraft this afternoon?

Yesterday was yet another very gentle and pleasant day - they may not be so exciting to write about but they certainly are lovely!

I went round to Chris' almost first thing for a great old natter and laugh, came home, did my Lindsey video (it's nice to be getting back to the regular classes again after a short break) and then Alex came round to make a very successful caramelised onion chutney in Thermione.  Well done, Alex.  I know Beth had plans to use some for their dinner last night so I hope they liked it.

I had an email from Vorwerk - my new TM7 should be with me in seven to ten days.  I can choose when to have it delivered so will be there to receive it and indulge in some unpacking and setting up.  I'm ridiculously excited about this one - but then I always am where Thermomixes are concerned!

Last but not least, the lentil tofu, once tossed in seasonings and air fried, was absolutely delicious.  I LOVED it!

I had some uncooked potato cubes left from the day before so I tossed them too and cooked the both together as you can see.  So good!

Thank you for the ideas and inspirations.

Today, as always, starts with Slimming World and then I'm in to Morrisons to do the weekly shop.  Then I'm going round to Beth's, leaving my car and she is driving us into a precinct where there is a PC World/Curry type place.  She needs a laptop as she has to hand her work one back and I will be getting one for birthday and Christmas combined.  This is the start of looking around.  Then we plan to have a wander round Hobbycraft and I want to get some thread.
Finally, we will go mad extravagant and have a coffee out.  We like to live dangerously!!

So today will be absolutely lovely, one way or another.  I have no particular plans for the weekend or the Bank Holiday Monday but that's OK - there's plenty to get on with at home, ranging from sewing, crochet and knitting through to dealing with the wilderness that is my front patch.

I won't be bored!

Have a great day, everyone.  Enjoy yourself and stay safe and well.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Thursday

Morning, all.  It's dull and slightly chilly round here this morning.  I'm seriously thinking of warmer pjs and snuggle hoods if this carries on!

More really helpful and food-for-thought comments on yesterday's post - I'm very grateful to you all.  It's a big purchase and I want to go in from a position of knowledge.  I need to get all this info into a sort of pros and cons sheet, don't I?

There's time, the car is nice and smooth again but I do want to be ready.

Regarding the 'mayo' - er, well, it wasn't mayo but, to be fair, I made the kind that has minimal oil and you could tell.  It's a bit eggy in flavour, there's a bit of a texture to it but it's OK in its own right if you forget it is supposed to be mayo-ish.  It will make a nice spread on bread with some salad in a sandwich and it might be good in coleslaw or as a dippy thing.  I must try it out in meal context and see.

The lentil 'tofu' worked really well, giving me four block of quite solid stuff, like a cheese only more 'wobbly'.  Given I have no tofu recipes in my repertoire, I need to find some ways of using it on the assumption that if you can do it to tofu, you can do it to this.

Any tofu eaters reading - please do throw ideas at me in comments.
I like trying new things and this is really new to me.

Yesterday was another very pleasant day.  The sun came out , I got some good news, Sharon came and chopped my hair, I did some crafting and some reading but I forgot to catch up with Sewing Bee so that's in the schedule for later.

Before that, though, I have coffee and chat with Chris and then Alex is over for his cookery lesson a day early.  Beth says he is so much more confident in the kitchen now so that's really good.

Today, he is making some caramelised onion chutney (in Thermione again - the guided cooking function really helps him and I'm teaching him how to step outside of it if necessary).

They will eventually get my TM6 anyway so he can then use it at home - they have my old TM5 but that is a bit less flexible.

Well, that is about it really.  Just a nice, normal day with, I hope, no upsets or surprises.

I hope you are all well and that you have a great Thursday.  Be good but - maybe - not too good, OK?  xx

Wednesday

Good morning, everyone!  We've had rain overnight which is nice because I haven't needed to water the garden for a few days and I probably won't today either although I will check the pots and the hanging baskets, the be sure.

Thank you so very much for your helpful and informative comments yesterday.  I am grateful and they give me food for thought.

I thought I would just pick up on them today and comment on some of your comments.

Athene - it's so nice when a 'longtime lurker' decloaks, thank you very much.  I have a cheaper rate overnight and tend to use that in the darker months.  It's not as good as solar but it has to help, doesn't it?  You're absolutely right that my journeys are almost completely local/shorted.  The furthest I go is somewhere like Elveden, which is Newmarket way and only about an hour and a half - and Center Parcs has chargers!  I fully intend to get a home charger, should I go that way.  It only makes sense. 
Technology has improved significantly in recent years and electrics (and hybrids) have improved a lot.

Jane - I like that - team hybrid!  All cars are expensive nowadays; I don't know how the youngsters manage.  Bank of Mum and Dad, I suspect.
It would have been the infrastructure that would bother me.  However, I read and article from the RAC on this and their information was that in most parts of the country, there are plenty of charging points now with more in the pipeline.  Ever supermarkets with no petrol facilities have their charging corner now, don't they?
Three or so years ago, when I started thinking ahead, hybrid was definitely my first choice.  Now - no0t so sure.

Sencosue - I think you hit the target when you say it suits you perfectly.  That's the thing about cars - some do and some don't and finding that good match can be tricky.  I'm taking my time over this one, for sure.

Sooze - yes, indeed.  I always have this lurking worry that the car will fail and be very expensive too.  Actually, mine is purring happily since the service - they obviously tuned, tightened, replaced and generally calmed down the rattly things, the sluggish things, the noisy things and she's running so well again.  However, I still think it is time to start thinking.

Sue - that's really very interesting, thank you.  I think, for me, that petrol is a no-no now and, given I generate some of my electricity anyway . . .  

I know that all cars depreciate rapidly, that's unavoidable, but with the phasing out of all things fossil fuel, petrol cars will be harder and harder to find and also to sell.   I don't know how many driving years I have ahead of me; at least a decade, I sincerely hope, but I have to be both sensible and realistic and I hope that I will have the courage to recognise when it is time to stop, both for my own safety and that of other road users.  I may run any new car into the ground or I may need to sell it on - who knows?

Electrics have improved considerably and will continue to do so, I think.
They're a good garage and have always been very helpful.  I've used them ever since I had a Peugeot, a very long time ago now, as have no reason to stop.

Jackie - for a few seconds I though you meant solar panels on the roof of his car!  Silly me!  I hope he is as pleased with them as I am.
I'm very glad too - I like my little car and will miss her.  However, common sense tells me it is time to start looking and seeing what is out there, doing some test drives, etc.

Random question - can you stall an electric car???  lol

Well done if you got to the end of that!!

Yesterday was another pleasant day.  My lovely friend, Mandy, came round for lunch and we talked and talked and talked.  Some people are so easy to talk with, aren't they.  I dropped her back off in town later (she busses to Maldon) and then popped round to Beth's with some seeded crackers I had made, some tomatoes and some runner beans where I had another good old chat about stuff.

Such a nice day, even though the sun didn't shine much!

Today is going to be easy.  I tidied, dusted and swept again before Mandy came (because you do, don't you?) so the place is reasonably presentable for now, and there's no washing, so that's nice.  I'm not going out - I'm doing very well with the more-frugal budget after some spendy times and if I go out I might . . . oh, you know.

I plan to craft with some more sewing and crochet and, in the afternoon, the lovely Sharon is here to make sense of the bird's nest on my head so that will be really nice.
I also want to try some slightly weird recipes.  Mayo made with hard boiled eggs and also some lentil tofu.   I've seen the former before but never made it myself and as for the latter, I don't eat tofu but I do love lentils.  I may or may not let you know . . . :-)

Better shut up and check on the eggs that are boiling in Thermione.  Have a great day, everyone, and, again, thank you for your really helpful info and opinions.  It's really appreciated.  Bye.  xx

Tuesday

 Morning, all.

Well, the car is back, the back brakes are 100% again (I had no idea they were a bit knackered) and I will probably need to replace a tyre next year. 
It was expensive, of course - what isn't nowadays, but everything is fine, she's shiny and clean, the very noisy windscreen wipers have been replaced and the  handbrake has been mended.  I have mentioned to them about starting a conversation about replacing her at some point and they are informing their sales team.  For now, though, she's back, everything is working properly and I feel confident to drive her.  

Now I have to think - do I want a hybrid or an electric.  Having solar panels slightly complicated the decision, I think, but I don't have a high milage really so - ponder, ponder . . . 
Do you have either?  What are your experiences?  Info and opinions, please.

Yesterday, I managed a few things.  Two loads of washing, drying, ironing and even putting away afterwards, a clean and tidy kitchen, not that it stays that way for long, and I'm back on the exercise wagon after being remarkably idle for a few weeks.  It suddenly struck me that on Thursday next week (eeek) I have Personal Training to make up for the one I missed at the end of July and I really don't want to end up a soggy, wet heap!
I also make good inroads into the crochet.  I'll show you when it's finished.

Today, I have a friend coming over for lunch and before then I want to do a bit of tidying, etc.  I'm also making some seeded crackers for Beth and Alex and will be taking them over, plus some runner beans and some tomatoes, when my friend had gone.  So a busier day but not too busy that I can't do a Lindsey circuits video.

Better get started early.  Enjoy your Tuesday, everyone.  See you again tomorrow.  xx

Monday

 . . . and, for the third time, my car is due in for its service and MOT.  Will it - won't it - watch this space, folks!
Edit and 9:30-ish:  It's just been collected.  Yay!!

Morning, everyone.  I hope your weekend has been lovely.

I had another lazy - I mean restful - day yesterday but, fair enough, I really was very tired after that stupidly early start.  Coffee helped as it always does.

I pottered in the kitchen, I crocheted as if it was my last chance, I caught up with some YouTube and I have had a great night's sleep.

I've just had a look through my diary and there's a bit more on this week.

Today is the car - I sincerely hope!  And housework
Tomorrow I have a friend here for lunch
On Wednesday, the lovely Sharon is doing my hair and I need to remember to start a sourdough loaf for a friend
On Thursday, I make the loaf and Alex is round for his lesson as he can't make Friday.  Onion chutney this week!
Friday is Slimming World as usual.

It should be nice.

The following week is the last in August (eeek) and things get a bit busier again - but more of that next Monday!

So - car in, housework and I am determined to catch up on my fitness with Lindsey's videos that she so thoughtfully provided for us while she's away.  Yesterday, I did Step (but on the ground - I don't feel 'safe' using a step) and today I will do Groove.

Nothing too busy but enough for me to feel I haven't wasted the day, if you know what I mean.

Time to get dressed.  Must be ready from eight, in case they come early for the car.  I can hope!
Have a lovely Monday, everyone, whatever your plans are.  xx

Sunday

A quick one today - I was wide awake and three so am so very tired now!  Thank goodness I can snooze.

Yesterday was lovely is a very quiet way.  I just pottered really, in kitchen and living room, did a bit of housework and generally just chilled.

Today looks like being more of the same.  And that's about it really.  Makes up for yesterday's mega read, I guess.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  xx

Saturday - long post alert!

Good morning, lovely peoples all.  Welcome to Saturday's blog post.

Let's start off on a happy note.  This is this morning's pickings.

The runners are definitely coming thick and fast now.  Time to offer some to Chris and Steve and there will be more ready this evening.  

So many tomatoes!  Red ones, yellow ones and orange ones although most of the fancy pants ones are pretty much over now with the good old favourites going steadily on - alicante, gardener's delight, sungold . . .
Time to put some more in the freezer.  Today, I think I will just take off the skins and freeze them whole or roughly chopped - they're always nice to have on cold winter mornings, cooked with bacon.

(I'm going to use that photo as my new banner)

The chillies are drying nicely just left out on the window ledge.  No need to dehydrate them although I'm going to try a few of the semi-dried ones, just to see how it goes.

Back to yesterday.  I went off to Slimming World, offering for the taster table in my bag.  I took some grapes, raspberries and strawberries, some vanilla yogurt (made with Fage, sweetener and vanilla and really nice) and some mixed seeds.  I find these morning tasters much harder to provide for than the evening ones - after all, who wants meatballs in a rich tomato sauce first thing in the morning?

It was also the Woman of the Year vote.  I had been nominated with five others so no chance - isn't it nice to be in a group with so many 'inspirational' people?  I did my talk, showed my photos, listened to the others, we all votes  and . . .

. . . this!

Truly a total surprise and how very lovely.  The flowers are beautiful and I feel so . . . so honoured.

I lost some weight too which I was really happy about.  I haven't gained much but am a few pounds over my target range right now and I want that to go again.  All those lovely tomatoes and runner beans are definitely helping.

Then I went shopping, to Aldi this time.  Adi is really great value but I tend to only go now and again because their fruit and veg can go off quickly and I buy a lot of fruit and veg.  However, in the interests of frugality, fuelled by a few very spendy months to come, I got some really nice fruit which I will keep a close eye on.  The thing with fruit is that if it starts going a bit squishy, it usually tastes great and it's so good in a yogurt and oar smoothie or an overnight oats sort of thing or even as a puree to go in yogurt.  I went a bit more interesting with a pineapple, nectarines and peaches.  We will see!
And it was all surprisingly cheap too, for once.

They didn't have everything on my list though - I need to go to Morrisons today to get some red lentils, some bulgur wheat and some Marigold stock powder.  There's always something, isn't there?

I picked Alex up and we came home.  Yesterday's cooking lesson was a curry sauce with added vegetables to which can be added pulses or meat - Beth is vegetarian and Alex is not.  It is a Thermomix recipe - chick pea curry - and it is on Cookidoo so it was good to show Al how to use Guided Cooking and adapt it.  When my new Thermomix comes, they're getting my current one so it's well worth using it for these sessions.
He went home with a pot of chicken and veg curry and a pot of chick pea and veg curry.  They have rice at home.

Next week, we're going to make some onion chutney, again in Thermione.  I'm looking forward to that.

I got a message from Leonie (my Thermomix consultant) to say that the waiting time for the new TM7 is now eight weeks, not ten, so to look out for an email from Vorwerk.  So exciting!!

I think it is safe to say that yesterday was one of those happy days!

Today - all weekend, in fact - is a nothing in the diary day.  I have some crochet to finish before Tuesday so I will be getting on with that, I've decided what to do with the dress I'm making.  For a mock up, it's come out great and it's nice to have something wearable from what was supposed to be a try out made with an old sheet!

I want to get those few items I couldn't get yesterday from Morrisons.

I will be processing tomatoes and runner beans.

I kind of feel like a back to back watch of Harry Potter (yet again).

I know some of you are avid watchers of Strictly.  I know they're not all 'revealed' yet but I'm liking the look of the celebrities this year - I have heard of more than just one or two for a change!  What do you think?

Oh, dear, this has turned out very, very wordy.  So sorry.  If you've made it through, many thanks, and have a really lovely weekend.  All the best and stay safe, everyone.  xx

Friday

It's Friday already - good  morning, everyone.  Are you having a pleasant week?  Goodness, it has been hot again, hasn't it?

The boiler service didn't go brilliantly yesterday.  I still have a fully functioning boiler but there's a developing problem with the heat exchanger (I think that is what he said - or was it gas something or other?) which will need replacing.

Matt and I discussed options.  I can have the exchanger replaced, I can have a new boiler or I can totally modernise my system with a combi boiler.  The exchanger will come with a one year guarantee while the other two will have a much longer guarantee.
I won't be going with the first option and, if I want to future-proof things, it would perhaps be best to go with the third option.  It will mean considerable upheaval and, of course, it will be way more expensive but, in the long term, cheaper and better for the environment.

And I will have an extra cupboard on the landing.  Extra space, anyway.

Anyway, Matt is going to price things up for me and then I can speak to Kay, my financial person, regarding releasing funds from my long term savings.  I'm fine to do that, it's a long term thing and will add some value.
It will also solve the issue of the outside pipe that freezes up when the temperature drops below about -5.

Ho hum - but I am so grateful I can afford whatever needs doing.

And Matt said whatever I decide, it can be all done and dusted before the cold weather arrives.

So that was yesterday's big thing.  The rest of the day was really nice; a great chat with Chris and Tracy and I had to drop off some tablecloths to the Thursday SW group so I popped into Morrisons and got some nice fruit for tomorrow's taster at my group.

  

It was warm but it didn't feel particularly humid so it was quite comfortable.

Today is Slimming World, of course, and then the weekly shop followed by picking Alex up and coming home for a cooking lesson.  A curry sauce this week that he can have with meat and Beth can have with beans.  Hope that all goes well.

And then it is the weekend!

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Thursday

Morning, all.  

First of all - bloomin' delicious - thanks for the suggestions.

I was going over my finances for this month so far and feeling slightly smug when ding, ding, two messages popped into my email, both from Ray of Broomfield coaches, both asking for final payments.

One was for the John Rutter at St Paul's concert nearer to Christmas.

The other was one I had totally forgotten about, a trip to the Houses of Parliament which includes, I think, a guided tour and interesting stuff about history and so on and so forth.  Thankfully, there is no clash with anything else.

The finances have taken a hit but I can move cash from my Jolly Holidays account, if necessary, and now I DO have something more to look forward to this month.  Isn't that nice?

It was hot in the morning but by the afternoon - this was a bit of a surprise and I am so glad I didn't have any washing on the line.

(terrible recording.  I just grabbed the camera and clicked - and my feet got very wet!!)

So doing the housework was very comfortable rather than nasty and sweaty and I then got on with some crochet with a clear conscience.

It's humid this morning.  You know when there's that slight feeling of damp where your clothes touch you and you can feel it when you breathe in - that!   BBC tells me that it might go up to 27C today and 29C tomorrow so that nice - perhaps.

I have Matt the Plumber round to service the boiler first thing this morning and I have remembered to turn off the boiler.  Then, being Thursday, Chris is round and Tracy next door is joining us too which will be nice.  The rest of the day is mine to do with as I wish.  The garden does need some attention so we will see. 

Take care, everyone, stay safe and be good but maybe not too good.  See you!  xx

Wednesday

Good morning again, everyone!   The sun is shining and, right now, it is pleasantly fresh so doors and windows are wide open to freshen the house up.  I'll give it another hour and then the sunny side windows will be closed and the fans turned on.
I'm really loving the bladeless fans I bought - they are really good and kept me comfortable yesterday and through the night.

A bit of garden . . . because why not?

The third beefsteak tomato, nearly ready for picking.  The first two are on the window sill and I'm having one stuffed for lunch.  The other is a bit 'ragged' so I will probably chop it up to get the tatty bits off and, maybe, just freeze as chopped tomato.

As the kids say:

'Yummy yummy yummy

I have beans in my tummy . . .'

. . . and in the freezer.  I just top and tail, string and slice them, no need to blanche although you can, if you want.

Dead easy and they do taste good in the colder times.

 

A terrible, terrible photo but the first cyclamen flower is up - sure sign of Autumn on the way.

I'm so enjoying these August days when I don't have to be up and ready to leave at nine for a fitness class.  It's the same feeling as when I was teaching and it was the holidays.  Not less stressful, not less pressured, just chilled.  I love my classes, as you know, but a bit of a change is nice too.

Yesterday, I realised the difference winding the bobbin properly makes to the Bernina!  If all else fails, read the manual, eh?  It still needs a service, mind, but I won't be going into town while it is so very hot.  There's no urgency and, in a way, it's probably better to wait for September as I have the car service and the boiler service to pay for this month - or even October when it's double pension month.

I'll think about that one.

I have been looking for an invisible zipper foot - they come as standard now but when Mum got the machine, they weren't a thing.  I've found some suppliers so that's another thing but I will see how much money there is left at the end of the month - hopefully it will be that way round, fingers crossed.

I've had a few failures but I did, however, have some success with another dress pattern I took from a dress.  The mistake I made was cutting the skirt a bit short (if I want it maxi, which I do, I think) so I am just pondering a strip around the bottom in another fabric I have that should look really nice.  I'm just a bit worried that it might look a bit 'antique' although what's wrong with that?   I will continue to ponder and, if I am still dithering,  I might post a few photos and ask for advice.

Today is the day I HAVE to catch up on housework and tidying because I have friends around tomorrow morning. 

My list says:

housework

milk (I'm out and will need some)

apples (Chris gave me some windfalls and I need to get them blanched and frozen)

Not too bad, is it.  Plenty of time left for the finer things of life - like watching Sewing Bee, crochet, sewing . . . etc.

Better get going.  Have the best day and be safe in this heat.  xx

Tuesday

Morning, my lovelies!  We've had some unexpected rain here overnight, more than just a short shower by the looks of it.  I'm pleased about that.

It just wasn't my day yesterday!!!

Firstly, surprise, surprise, the car didn't have its MOT/service.  To be fair, not their fault this time - the place that they use couldn't do petrol MOTs because the emissions testing machine thingy had broken down.  I suppose it could have had the service but it would have had to go back again anyway so there didn't seem much point really.   I had to chuckle that they are 'waiting for the part they need.'  😂

Third time lucky - next Monday when, it is to be hoped, the machine will have been repaired.  I need to have the MOT more than the service really.

Never mind, thought I, I'll pop into town on the bus anyway and have a talk to the Franklin's people as planned.  So I did.  And guess what - Franklin's is closed on Mondays.  

I really should have checked!

Oh, well, good for the step count!

I came home and consoled myself by getting Beth's loaf into the oven (it rose beautifully) and then using some garden tomatoes and cucumber (plus other ingredients) to make a nice jug of gazpacho that will do me a few days.

They say troubles come in threes so maybe I should have expected something else.  Come the afternoon, Beth's sourdough loaf was cooling down so I messaged to say 'can I bring it over now' and drove over, pulled up outside her flat and . . . the handbrake wasn't working.  The button that your thumb presses in had jammed close and the brake was 'floppy' with no bite, if you know what I mean.  I left the car in gear and went in to Beth's where she helped me phone the RAC (my poor hearing, you see).

Four-ish hours later, along came a very nice repair man who removed the cover to the button which had broken and jammed (the cover, I mean).  And that was all it was.  I can use the handbrake as it is, no problems.  So maybe it is just as well that the service didn't happen today - they can sort it out next Monday when the car is in anyway.

However, I am glad . . .

that the service was cancelled (again) because the handbrake was probably a problem in waiting, I can still drive the car and they can sort it out next week - I don't have to make any special arrangements.

that I realised it had broken outside Beth's home so I could just go in and wait in comfort.

that it didn't happen at home because I am not sure I have home breakdown included - I must check.

that it was safe to keep driving because I guess it jammed when I released the brake to set off to Beth's and I drove on oblivious.

that I didn't have to stop in a dangerous place such as a roundabout or a motorway and it wasn't dark or raining or . . . you get the idea.

And I am very glad that  there are organisations like the RAC.  Yes, I had to wait but given the situation I knew I wasn't a priority.  I have the service next week but they could have arranged repairs if I had needed it.  Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.

And, finally - it made me realise how lucky I am to have a car and how much I will miss it when the times comes to no longer be able to drive, one way or another.

(all that pondering out of a simple handbrake malfunction - I am feeling reflective today, obviously!)

Let's hope today holds a bit less 'excitement'.  Please . . .

Regarding the beef tomato, I thought I might use this recipe (probably slightly adapted to work with what I have available).  What do you think?

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/couscous-stuffed-beef-tomatoes

While reading the Bernina manual on the way into town yesterday, I realised that I have been doing a few things 'wrong'.  They worked, but it's not what the manual said.   

My sewing efforts so far have not been very successful.  The dress from the pattern I bought in Rye that I used the size 12 version for is way too large.  It's loose fitting but not that loose!!
And Chris' dress that I attempted to take a pattern from - nope!

Thank goodness I was using old sheeting.

Oh, well, it's kept me busy and contented and I am learning things.  

Right, well, I have waffled on way too long so I will love you, leave you and get on with other social media responsibilities.  Have a great day and, please, stay cool, hydrated and remember the sun cream.  See you tomorrow.  xx