Tuesday

Hey, everyone, welcome to Tuesday, the very last day of September.  As I said on Facebook a few minutes ago, I am sure it was only last week that I said the same thing about August!  Where on earth is the time going!

Thank you for your kind comments yesterday.  This whatever-it-is-virus is plodding on.  It's not awful, just not very nice with the usual aches, sore throat, sniffles and weariness and I am yet again glad and grateful that I can stay in and feel sorry for myself without feeling stressed about work, planning, supply teachers and should-I-go-in-or-not-ness.

Yesterday was a pottering sort of day, a catching up on things day.  I did some reading; you might remember I thought I would try the Tony Robinson novel, The House Of Wolf.  I got a few chapters in and decided not to bother any more.  I'm sure it's good if you like that sort of thing but I don't like violence in any shape or form - not in books, not on the telly or in a film and, certainly, not in real life.
For me, this was nasty and I was very glad I only accessed a free sample on my Kindle with the intention of buying the book if I enjoyed the sample!

So I have turned to a much better (for me) book, a biography of Matilda, William the Conqueror's wife, by Tracy Borman.  Academic but very readable.  Much more me and I do like Tracy Borman's books.

I have topped up the pulses in my freezer - soaking and then cooking takes a bit of time but the results are good and now I can grab a handful of whatever, whenever I need it.  Butter beans, chick peas, kidney beans (boiled vigorously for 20 mins, of course) and pinto beans.  Very nice!

Today, I won't be going to Groove and neither is Chris.  She's also still recovering from her virus which has gone on for ages now - I hope mine clears up faster!!
I have things to get ready for tomorrow when Matt arrives, although I must let him know there is plague in the house, of course.  😀

Here's where the tree was.  So much more sky now, it shines a light on my messy corner so I must do something about it.  Tracy and I are still marvelling at the difference in brightness in our gardens and houses and I'm looking forward to seeing how the plants will respond.

Right, well, time to stop and get the day started.  I want to get the airing cupboard cleared first thing so it's off my mind and then do the daily kitchen sort out.  Then I can relax.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Take care, be safe and have fun.  xx

Monday

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to my blog at the start of another week.  The heating is and it's a bit chilly outside as I found when I took a couple of things out to the freezer.  We had some rain yesterday but I had a day in so no worries.  I was a bit gutted at missing Lindsey's Pop Up Shop which was yesterday but I wasn't going to breathe germs over everyone and anyway, didn't feel up to it.  I've just let her know I won't be at circuits this morning either.

I did a few things though.  I finished off the sourdough loaf but won't be able to got it to Lindsey until Wednesday now so I have sliced it and I will freeze it for her.  I also finished some pinto beans that had been soaking and they are also now in the freezer too.

The virus/cold/whatever it is hangs around, as they do.  It's OK, just not that pleasant, you know.  There's not a lot I HAVE to do apart from getting things ready for Wednesday when Matt starts the boiler stuff.  All he needs is for me to clear the airing cupboard and the space around the boiler so if today I can sort out the spare room and get the towels, etc, in there, tomorrow I can do the kitchen and it won't take too long, however I feel!

Anyway - I hope everyone is good and has a pleasant week ahead of you.  Take care, stay safe and see you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday

Morning, everyone!  Chilly, isn't it.  My heating is clicking in!

Yesterday morning was satisfyingly busy.
When I did the shopping on Friday, I found a nice little piece of silverside beef and some very lean looking cooking bacon.  Cooking bacon is the bits that are left from slicing which are not 'perfect'.  They are just bundled into a bag and vacu-packed and what's inside can be very good, very fatty or anywhere in between.  They were just a pound so I got two.
The beef went into the slow cooker yesterday morning with herbs, veg, beef stock, etc, and simmered away on lot for around six hours (the house smelled amazing) and I separated the bacon into bits for lardons, slices for rashers and chunks for slow cooking into ham - not that they would take that long.  I cut as much fat off as possible but there wasn't much so that was good.  I ended up with four pots of 'lardons', three chunks, one thick slice for gammon and a lot of rashers.  Great value for £2.

Then I gave Bubbles some attention and, while I am on the subject of sourdough starter, RIP Squeak.  She didn't go bad or anything, I just wasn't using a white starter at all, I always use Bubbles (rye) and feeding her was just a waste of flour.  I gave her a good end - into the compost bin to make great soil!
I still have Squibbles (the discard), of course.  Now and again, the jar fills and that, if I don't need muffins or pancakes or crumpets, that goes into compost too.

Anyway, back to Bubbles - I got her out of the fridge on Friday to wake her up and yesterday morning she was very lively which made me happy!*  So I started a leaven, discarded and fed and she's now back in the fridge.

(*  I know - bonkers!!!)

I wanted one of my lovely seeded wholegrain loaves too, so I started that off in Thermione.  It came out beautifully, having been baked in the square tin with a lid - I think it is called a pullman.  Quite the best shape for toasties and the like.

I got washing on the line - goodness, the difference in light is incredible.  It should have a good impact on my solar panels too I should think.  They will get good light for longer.  It did start raining - not much but enough to convince me that driving to the demo might be a good idea.  It was, but not because of the rain.

On to the demo.  We have a Thermomix Studio/Kitchen in town which is very lucky for us Thermo-fans.  They run all sorts of demos and 'experiences' hat are completely free.  You don't even have to pay for the food.  I guess you are expected to have an interest in Thermo cooking and it can be a bit of a sales pitch which is fair  - I don't feel the pressure because I have one!

Anyway, this one was called 'A Taste of Romania'.  I hadn't realised that there's quite a Romanian community in the area although perhaps I should have as the cleaning company I used to use was Romanian led and staffed.

When I walked in, it was beautifully decorated with the Romanian flag and a work space all set up and ready - it didn't look like this by the end!!!

The table was nicely set up with some drinks, some nibbles and . . . 

. . . a beautiful, big bowl that I greatly coveted.  I looked under it and it was made in Jerusalem - a tad to far to go for it, I think!  :-)

There were a fair number of young teens there, all Romanian as far as I could tell.  In fact apart from me and a pleasant Australian lady, everyone else was Romanian and obviously enjoying chatting in Romanian to each other although I didn't feel left out, not at all.  It was noisy, though, and my hearing wasn't happy!!

They cooked all sorts of things.  I've made this one, butter bean hummus, although I didn't make the topping.  It was delicious and one to make when I have a friend over, I think.

This bread, made earlier and just out of the oven when I arrived, was gorgeous.  I hardly ever have white bread, preferring wholemeal/wheat, but now and again is nice.

They also cooked polenta (I have 'raw' polenta on my shopping list now), garlic mushrooms (VERY garlic!) and a delicious pork dish that I need to track down as it, also was lovely.

The teens all clustered around one Thermo and made some delicious rice pudding - apparently it is quite a Romanian favourite.  Who knew?

One of the nice things about a Thermomix is that the screen can be set for many different languages so, obviously, they had Romanian as the language.

I asked what the pork dish was called and they Googled it (because the machines were all in use) and came up with pig neck.  Hmmmm.

(what's on the screen isn't the name, it's just one of the instructions).  

Taken while we were all enjoying the food.  Two of the team are 'advisers', like Leonie who is my adviser, and the third is a team leader.

I left just after six but goodness knows how long the party continued.  It was still going strong and showed no sign of stopping.

Thank you, ladies, I really enjoyed myself, even if I am still reeking of garlic this morning!

Today I'm having a quiet day because I'm not feeling 100%.  Not a bad tum, I hasten to say, nothing wrong with the food, but one reason I left at six was because I was starting a headache (which I put down to the noise) and a sore throat.
However, overnight and this morning the aches have started as well and I'm feeling shivery so I guess I'm down with something that's really going the rounds at the moment.  Hopefully, a nice, quiet day will sort things out.   I have a sourdough loaf to make but that's not work, it is a pleasure, and I have a kitchen to tidy which won't take long.  The ironing can wait.  :-)
There's pinto beans in the slow cooker and the meals are all planned so no worries.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to Saturday at home again.  The weather looks OK for the coming week and I should be able to get my second load of washing line dried this morning, which is nice.

When I got home yesterday, it felt so cold I caved in and the heating is now on - by that I mean the heating part of the boiler control is now on.  When the radiators actually come on is determined by the swish thermostat in the living room and I turned it up to warm up the house.

It's back to normal now so should only come on if the room gets below 18C.  I'll review that one after the combi boiler is in - the work starts on Wednesday and it should all be finished by the weekend.  And that reminds me - I need to empty the airing cupboard - a good opportunity to sort out my towels as I really do have far too many.

Back to yesterday.  After doing most of the packing on Thursday, Friday morning was stress free.  I got the car from the main car park and left it in the parking spaces outside the apartments while I loaded it up.  I left just before ten as once I'm packed I like to get going and get home.

As I said yesterday, it was an easy journey home apart from Sudbury which has a one way system through the centre and which always seems to be gridlocked.  I ended up going down the road to the station rather than turning right - not the end of the world as there's another way through, just annoying!  :-)

After that, it was easy peasy and I made good time, arriving home before midday.

Almost the first thing I noticed after the lovely, week free drive and path (blessings be upon Tracy and Terence) was that my confused dahlia has reached a new level of confusion!

For those who don't know. I have this dahlia out the front that has random patterned pink and/or white flowers.  It's very pretty and seems very happy in that spot, coming up bigger and better every year.  It's also a good talking plant when people come to the door!

This year, however - or I should say this fortnight - it has produced . . . 

. . . this!

How is that even possible?

There's only one plant there although I am sure the roots (corms?) need splitting by now but I need to look under the mass of leaves when I do a serious dead heading this morning at some point, just to see.  I don't think there can be though and it's the first time I've seen a puffball flower rather than the usual daisy style.

(I don't know the proper terms)

I'm not objecting.  Despite being covered with dirt and sand from the cleaning this week, it's very pretty (and colour confused).

But . . . . ?????

I did my shopping as planned and got that all sorted and put away except for the stuff that needs to go out into the garden room storage - I'll do that this morning.

Chris came over with a parcel that was on my doorstep and brought her dear little grandson, Bertie, with her.  He is such a lovely little chap and we had a great talk about monsters and tomatoes (don't ask).  He obviously wanted to come in and look round but Chris needed to go so I promised him he could come in another time and have a good look around my garden which he was happy about.

Tracy came round with another parcel and I gave her the thank you gifts from Center Parcs - some nice biscuits and some fudge.  I know the children will help her and Terence to eat them, should help be needed.

The tree has gone and it is startling how much more light I now have, both in my garden and in the living room.  It should help keep the room warmer on those sunny winter afternoons and, maybe, the tomatoes will do better on that side next year.  Tracy said the same thing - so much more light in her kitchen and dining room.  I miss the green but appreciate the extra light.  And, thinking about it, I won't miss having to sweep up all those fallen leaves in the next couple of months!

I was shattered by the evening so went to bed and slept pretty well.  It was so nice to have my lovely pillows again.  CP pillows are not the best - flat, hard and just not that comfortable.  Note to self - take my own next time!

Today I want to get a few things sorted and away and then look through the month's finances.  I've done my shop and all the regular payments are now out so I can close September and open October.
It's been spendy because I've bought things for Christmas, paid a deposit on the new boiler and had a holiday, but it was all planned in and expected so no worries.

I have washing and ironing to do, programmes to catch up on and this afternoon I am off into town to a Thermomix demo about the Tastes of Romania.  I'll bet the bus in and back out as it won't be dark when it finishes.

A nice day, I think.  I hope yours is too.  Stay safe and well.  xx

Friday and home, sweet home

Morning, everyone.  It's Friday and the little jolly is over and done, apart from the rest of the packing.  I did most of it yesterday so it's just the chilled stuff, the washing stuff, the night time stuff . . . etc.  Really very little.

Yesterday was such a pleasant day.  I did Lindsey's SET class although I had to use my phone rather than the laptop as the latter kept freezing.
Then I had a really lovely swim and a walk plus a trip to the shop to get a little something for Beth and Alex and a something for the Twelve Nights bags for me.  I've already got something for the family next door as a thank you for taking in some packages, getting my rubbish out, getting that tree sorted and, perhaps, doing over the front paved areas although that might not have happened this week.

And the ice cream, of course.  A double scoop for last day - strawberry and coconut and choc cookie.  Yummy!

I really do need to get back to proper eating again now . . .

In the evening, I ate out at Bella Italia where I had a aperol spritz (very nice although I do prefer campari to aperol) and a Marco Polo which is pasta with lamb, mushrooms and a spicy plum sauce - delicious!  And I was naughty with some gelato for dessert.  All in all, a nice end to my break.

I will leave at ten when I have to be out of the apartment.  Some people stay around - you can stay all morning, if you want, but I think once I've loaded up, that's it.  I should be home around midday and I can do a weekly shop in the afternoon while the first load of washing is in.  It's not quite a new month yet but I may as well stock up on some monthlies today; things like loo rolls, bleach - that sort of thing.

As often said, it's sad that this little break is over but I am looking forward to being back home and back to normal routines again.  As someone once said, 'There's no place like home.'

See you!  xx

Edit:  back home after a very easy journey apart from a wrong turning in Sudbury, almost unpacked, a load of washing in, runner beans and tomatoes picked . . . and just about to go to Morrisons.
Definitely back to normal again now.  

The tree is gone, there's so much more light in the back garden and the front drive is weed clear.  Cheers!

Oh, and I can get back into the sent posts to access your comments.  Phew.   xx

Thursday and more photos

Hi again, everyone.  It's the last full day of my break at Elveden.  The time has passed so quickly and I'm having a lovely time.  It will be nice to get home too but that's for tomorrow!

The first time we came to Center Parcs was when Beth and Dave were little.  I was given a two term maternity cover at school and thus was able to afford to book a holiday.  The girl at the agency I went to (this was well before internet, google, etc) recommended this new place that had just opened in Sherwood Forest that was a big thing on the continent - a holiday the English weather couldn't spoil.  So I booked (took the children out of school, bad me), we had the best time ever, they both cried as we left and the first thing I did when we got home was book another week.

This continued for a time but when the children were older, they went more on flourish holidays with my ex and wife so I did my own thing a little bit.  Along came Alex, funny, quirky, difficult to manage Alex and we discovered Streele Farm which was wonderful and very safe for a runner.

When that got a bit too expensive, we went back to Center Parcs - Alex was old enough to cope by then and we've been back ever since, on and off.  

And we have the next two planned but not yet booked!

Yesterday, I had the usual leisurely morning with a nice swim and yesterday's ice cream was mango.  Delicious.

In the afternoon, I headed off for another stroll around and came across this:

It was new to me so I took some photos that explain it.  
I am pretty sure Percy was the peacock that greeted guests when the Lakeside apartments were the Sheldrake Hotel.  

Here's the bench from the front.  It overlooks one of the lakes, a very restful and attractive spot.

I'm glad I saw it.

I took a few general snaps as I walked around.

It could almost be a country lane, rather than a holiday village, couldn't it?

It's a bit hard to see but I was standing on a bridge and this should have been a stream that ran between two 'lakes'.  However, the water levels are really low and not only is fishing banned for now, the water was fenced off at the beach so no paddling.  There didn't seem to be as many water birds as there always have been either.

Today, last full day, will be more of the same.  A swim, an ice cream, a walk and eating out in the evening.

And packing.  I hate to leave it until that very last day as we have to be out of the apartments by ten and I don't want to be fussing around at the last minute.  So I will be getting most of it done today, just leaving what is needed for tomorrow morning.

And I've just remembered, I'm going to try to join Lindsey's SET class this morning - I need it and my fingers are crossed that the connection is strong enough and doesn't keep freezing!  I haven't got the right gear for it really but that doesn't matter!

And I wonder if the tree has gone yet.

Have a good day, everyone.  xx

Wednesday and some photos

Hi, everyone.  Middle day of my short break and the weather forecast is for another sunny, not terribly warm day.  Not cold either, just in the mid teens C.

Yesterday was nice.  I didn't get my planned walk before breakfast (me being lazy) so I went the longer way round to the pool.  A lovely swim and some people watching before getting out, having my ice cream of the day (millionaire's shortbread flavour) and walking leisurely back to the apartment.

Later on I had a lovely walk around the village.  You just start walking and, as long as you keep going round, you end up where you started, more or less.  It was about an hour but I wasn't pushing it.

Today is more of the same really, except that I will probably go the other way round and head off to the outdoor activity area - not that I'm doing anything but it's a nice walk.

I took loads of photos . . .

The morning walk . . .

And the afternoon one:

Nice and old fashioned - some are emergency only (in case of fires, etc) and I think a few hold defibrillator equipment.

You can just see the hotel/apartments in the middle of the photo

Here's a close up - the hotel is behind the waterside lodges.

Plenty of squirrels.

And muntjacs.   They don't come close but they are confident with people - from a distance and watching carefully!

Right, well, time to get going, I guess.  I have to do my YouTube stuff and then the day starts!  

Have a good one.  xx

Tuesday

Good morning, everyone.
It's very strange.  I can write a new post on my laptop.  I can see your comment using the comments tab.  I can edit previous sent posts.  However, I cannot open a post in order to see your comments and reply.

But I can using my Kindle fire so it can't be restrictions connected with the Center Parcs internet.

Even more oddly, I can access my other blog, the 'Slimming World the Mediterranean Way' one, absolutely fine.  

Oh well, I'm not messing about with settings I do not understand so I'll have to read any comments the longer way round, using the Kindle.  No worries!

I had a good journey up yesterday in glorious sunshine, arriving more or less bang on when I told them I would arrive.  The queue to get in was the shortest I have even known - about five cars ahead of me, that was all.

I mooched around for an hour, had an ice cream  (I have promised myself one a day and yesterday's was toffee and fudge flavour!) went to the Parc Market (aka Co-op), looked around the gift shop and, yes, I found a different fridge magnet to last year's one.  In fact, they seem to have gone in for their own brand of 'stuff'.  Scented candles, reed diffusers and the like.  I'm still on the lookout for some Twelve Night gifts to myself and they had a lovely scent.  Not Christmassy, just nice.  So, maybe . . .

I also got these.

Now there is absolutely no way I can make a case for more Christmas themed earrings as you will realise when I start my Advent Calendar, but they had such a lovely range of them and, unless they restock the shelves, there are no Christmas tree decorations I like.

(buying one new tree decoration each year - if I really LOVE it - is one of my little traditions)

Then, at two, unloaded the car and unpacked.

I took a very poor video of the apartment this time rather than photos.  I apologise in advance.  The sun was streaming in so it's all colour-wonky and heaven knows what the sound is like - I really need to find the confidence to speak or the technology to do a voice over.  I recommend that you turn it right down.  Anyway, it gives you some idea and you can see that the trees have grown so much that they are now blocking the lake view which is a bit of a shame but not to worry.  Trees are beautiful too.

It was very chilly first thing yesterday morning but by the time I had finished unpacking, it felt really hot.  I took the car back to the car park and then went straight to the pool for a lovely, refreshing swim.  It felt so good and, as it was just before four, the pool wasn't that busy as most people were unloading and getting their cars back to the park (I had early arrival).

I got out, dried, dressed and went back to my apartment for a lovely hot shower and hair wash.  Bliss.  So was the hot coffee I had while I dried off.  

I went to Huck's for dinner and enjoyed their chicken fajitas platter before coming back and chilling.

Early to sleep meant early to rise so here I am, second coffee beside me, typing this before it starts getting light.

What am I doing today?   

Well, I will probably go out for an early morning stroll down to the beach with an apple or something and just chill with my Kindle for a while.  Then I will come back for breakfast before going for a swim at ten (when the pool opens).
After that, I will come back for some lunch and then, probably, go for a walk around the village.  I quite fancy going down to the tree houses, around and back. 
If I have a little snooze before or after, no worries - I'm on holiday after all!

And then, maybe, another short swim before dinner which I am having here.  I was pleased to see that the shop has Cook's ready meals but not so pleased to see that they were not single portions, darn it.  I don't want to have the same thing two nights on the trot so I'll probably make something here - I've brought bits and bobs from home.

Anyway, no worries and I'm looking forward to a lovely day!  See you tomorrow!  xx

Monday

Hello, everyone.  Bit of a chilly start to the day today but I refuse to turn on the heating yet - in fact, I won't be until at least after Matt has done the boiler/combi replacement thingy.  After all, it's only September!   Colder than usual, said the weather lady, but September!

Well, I'm pretty much ready!  I did some more washing yesterday and used the dryer, seeing as the solar panels were firing on all cylinders in the sunshine.  When I get back, all I will have is holiday washing and yesterday's stuff to deal with which will be easy

I took a screen shot of the Elveden weather forecast for this week.  Looks great but not particularly warm so I packed a few more jumpers and my warmer coat.  No complaints, Autumn sunshine is wonderful and the rooms are well air conditioned so they warm up easily as well as cooling down.

Have you ever used packing cubes?  I never have although I've seen then plugged often enough on YouTube and a fortnight ago I succumbed after seeing a really cheap set on guess where!

I suppose that, if you are a very organised packer anyway, they are very much a 'statement' thing, but I'm not and I am shocked at how helpful they were.  Instead of dithering around, adding stuff and taking too much, they 'encouraged' me to do one thing at a time (e.g. undies and socks or nighttime stuff), get that cube packed, zipped up, into the case and ticked off, knowing that bit was done.  Then on to the next.

Everything seems to have fitted better into the case too - I must have less than usual but that's fine because I always take way too much.

It's weird how much they helped.

I might even be super-organised on Friday and pack the stuff that needs washing in two cubes, darks and lights.   😉😆😇

On the other hand . . . 

It's pretty much all done now.   I've even remembered to check the tyres and fill the tank - not that the latter was needed but just to be on the safe side . . .

There's just a few things to do but no rush!  Bins, washing up, packing the tech and packing the cool bag stuff.  And then I'm off.  

Happy Monday to everyone.  Have a great day!  xx

Edit:  I don't seem to be able to access my posted blogs.  No idea why.  I will keep trying.  xx

Sunday

Morning, all!  And it seems to be a nice start to the day too with early sunshine.  A few days ago, BBC weather predicted rain for Elveden this coming week.  That's all changed and now it looks like being nice and sunny instead.  Not warm, just mid teens, but that's OK.  Layers are the name of the game!

Yesterday, I looked for a 'healthy apple cake' recipe, feeling that it was not really going to be a thing - and then I found this.

https://www.cinnamonandkale.co.uk/carrot-apple-and-sultana-loaf-sugar-free/

I made it just as the recipe said except that I had SR wholemeal so I used that and just half a tsp baking powder.
I wasn't sure but you know what - it is absolutely lovely.  I thought it would be really heavy but, while not as light as white flour would have been, it is not stodgy at all.

It's now all sliced, individually wrapped and in the freezer - and I MUST remember to take it with me for a nice afternoon treat with a cuppa or a coffee.

I had a message from my lovely neighbours with two things.
The first was that next week they intend power weeding/cleaning and sanding the car parking space outside my house (it is a shared space) if that was OK by me (as if I was going to say no, bless them) and they will also do my pathway up to my front door (it is all part of the same paved space, open plan so to speak).   How lovely is that?

The other is that this tree, which is in their corner but next to the boundary fence, is going.  I know this has been on the cards for a while and I saw the tree surgeon's van outside a month ago so it's not a surprise. 
It's a tree in the wrong place and, while it was just beautiful when it was a young tree, it is now way, way too big despite being cut back regularly, it is lifting some of the slabs at the end of my garden (Seth and co made allowances for this when building my garden room but even so . . .) and it has seriously cut down the light into both our gardens and into my living room too, especially late afternoon and evening.  
I hate seeing a tree go but it's a relief at the same time. 
Does that make sense?

I got a lot of stuff done yesterday, on and off.  As I said in a comment reply, the place looks like a bomb hit it in parts, but there is an underlying method (I hope) and by lunchtime it should be all ready.

I shouldn't really need travelling instructions but I am a bit paranoid about getting 'lost' so printed them out (yet again) as well as printing out the paperwork for the holiday.  Neither should be needed but - well, belt and braces . . .

Did you enjoy the Strictly launch show?  It was the usual video clips, fake surprise, celebrity waffle (I think a few are going to get on my nerves pretty quickly) and [performances and I enjoyed it all immensely.  All froth and sparkle and Chris McCausland makes me laugh so much!
They didn't mention Diane's pregnancy (unless I just missed it) but it will be interesting to see how she adapts things - she's a brilliant teacher and flexible in her approach so it will be an education to watch, I am sure.

Today is just finishing getting ready, doing the house stuff like emptying bins, etc, all the stuff you need to do.  The nice thing about living in such a friendly cul de sac is that everyone looks out for everyone else and I know that if there's anything that seems untoward, it will be sorted.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  I'm off to get another coffee before I do anything else.  I will be posting through the week, of course, with the usual photos - room, view, walks, wildlife, etc, etc, etc, so see you tomorrow.  xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone.  Just past six o'clock and it's still dark!  It's dry and it's not cold at all although I gather that's about to change.  

They used to plug Center Parcs as 'the holiday the weather won't spoil' and that is very true.  I have my fold up raincoat coat and waterproof (ish) shoes ready to pack and you get wet swimming anyway!  :-)

My yarn order arrived yesterday - it's lovely, just the right colours for a colourful, traditional sort of - er - thing!  I'm happy!  I'm having to resist starting the thing right now - which would never do!!  

Alex turned up, learned how to make nice, crunchy roast potatoes, ate some for lunch (with chicken and veg!) and took two bags of two portions of them home to freeze for another time although I got a very strong impression that one bag would be used for his and Beth's dinner!
He's going to make some more (at mine) nearer to Christmas and freeze them for the Christmas dinner.  That's my boy!!

I took him home and stayed for a chat with Beth.  Usually she and Alex would be coming with me to Center Parcs as we have done each year since lockdown but this year that hasn't happened (for various very good reasons).
So the plan is to book a holiday there next May for Alex's birthday instead.  Then, the following year, we have a long standing plan to have a family time there for my 75th birthday and go bananas in a very posh treehouse.  Very much a one-off - unless Ernie is very kind to me (which ain't going to happen!)

And Alex's next lesson is roasting a chicken!

It's interesting - teaching someone else who is starting from scratch has really made me realise how much we home cooks do things automatically, instinctively.  It makes writing out instructions for even the simplest things like roasties more long winded than one would expect.

Today I will . . .

get the food/equipment sorted for next week

do some washing so I know all the clothes I need for next week are clean, dry and folded for packing 

find a recipe for a healthy apple cake (if that's not an oxymoron) and make it

do some cleaning and tidying and generally sorting things out

watch the Strictly launch show (how can it possibly be that time of year already?)

How about you?

Have a lovely day.  xx

Friday

Good morning, everyone.

After hearing that Chris wasn't well, I headed off earlier into town, first to B&M (a few groceries/toiletries/Advent stuff), then to Aldi next door (a few more bits and bobs) and lastly to Hobbycraft where I got a little pot of mixed sparkly beads of various kinds, all of them with holes through so they could be sewn on.

The main reason to go was because it was Aldi's yarn event but I was sadly disappointed with the poor show.  Not that I need any more yarn but even so - nothing like the range I saw on YouTube videos and online.  Someone just didn't bother!

It was probably just as well, mind you,  because I decided to buy yarn for the borders of The Project That Will Not Be Mentioned as I didn't think I had enough in my stash and that's arriving from Wool Warehouse today.

Alex will be round for a cookery lesson so we will get those crunchy potatoes mastered!  Most will go into the freezer but we'll cook enough for him to have for lunch with some chicken and vegetables.

After Slimming World this morning, I will pop next door to Morrisons for a very small weekly shop.  I bet it still costs an arm and a leg, mind you!

And, apart from the usual, that's my day!

And I need to go and wash my hair now before getting dressed so I will love you  and leave you with hopes that you have a great day.  xx

Thursday

Hello again, everyone.  Just a quick one today.

Yesterday's rain cleared in the afternoon and we had some sunshine but it's cloudy again today so who knows?  I got stuff done - some housework, some cooking/baking as always, I wrote out the various patterns or links for the calendar I am not going to mention (lol) and generally chilled.

As I was sorting out some 4 ply yarn, I found a whole load of granny squares that I must have made a long time ago because I can only vaguely remember making them, so I have set to to turn them into some blankets for the Salvation Army drop off.  Nothing fancy, just another round and join as you go!

I watched the final of the Sewing Bee early, before I accidentally saw the results on Facebook.  No spoilers but just to say that this year I would have been happy is any of them won, I thought they were all equal and had clear strengths, not all the same strengths but - you know what I mean.  So no disappointment at the results, they deserved it.

This morning, I have made a sourdough with the leaven I started yesterday evening and I've had a message from Chris to tell me she's got an extremely sore throat and the snuffles so no chat this morning - maybe she has what Lindsey has, who knows?  Get well soon, Chris.

I was planning to go to Home Bargains and to Aldi later on but now I can go earlier.  If I get all the slap and folds done, I can pop the dough in the fridge to ferment slowly and get it out again when I come home.  It will still be baked by tomorrow which is when I need it.

For the rest of today I want to get some clothes out to pack, carry on sorting out my 4 ply, carry on with that blanket, do a bit of decluttering and generally potter, as usual.

Oh, and maybe make an apple loaf to take with me next week.

Nice!

Have a lovely day, all.  Take care, stay well and be safe.  xx

Wednesday

Hello again, everyone.  Where has the sunshine gone?  Rain, rain and more rain.  Oh, well, we did need lots and lots of rain to soak the ground and make up for the very dry summer so we shouldn't complain too much, really!

A quick update.  Ian is still in hospital - they are making sure things are properly as they should be before he goes home.  Quite right too.
I don't think I am giving anything away as Stephanie has talked about this in her YouTube vlog.

Thanks for all your advice in yesterday's comments.  I have decided that the squares are going to be edged in either dark red or dark green, as is the border, which means I will stitch them together rather than joining as I go - which actually makes it easier because I can make the lot and then decide on the arrangement.  The sparkle will be in the pictures and, perhaps, in the basic grannies but I will knock up a few today to see how it all looks before deciding that.
The background to all the picture squares will be white.

And that, my friends, is that.  I must have bored you to tears with my Advent ramblings so I will shut up about it for a few months now.

Sadly, for the first time in weeks, I have both cucumber and tomatoes on my shopping list.  I'm very sad about that.  However, as you can see in the collage, there's loads of baby runner beans and this wet weather suits them.  On Sunday, I will pick as many as I possibly can and get them into the freezer and, hopefully, there won't be too many tough ones when I get back from Elveden.

Apart from a bit of housework and a loaf to bake, I seem to have an easy day today.  It should be personal training but Lindsey is unwell and I have told her to rest and catch up on her sleep.  Also, I really don't want to catch anything right now.  She has classes on YouTube so I can do one of them instead.

Well, time to stop rambling and start the day.  I need to check the loaf and, probably, get the oven heated and I have some colourways to decide about!  :-)

Stay dry, people, and have a lovely, cosy day.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Tuesday

Good morning, everyone, welcome to Tuesday.

It really was a very windy day yesterday but, round here, never anything worrying.  The sun shone, apart from one shower, and it was the best drying day ever.  Three loads dried and so blown around that ironing was minimal, if at all.  And the bedding smells so fresh too.

First of all, an update.  Ian came through the procedure safely, thank goodness (it wasn't a definite that he would) and has been in the high dependency ward overnight with one to one care because the other patent went home yesterday evening.  Stephanie was sent home with instructions to have a good meal, a good sleep and come back next day.  
So it is all good news so far and thank you all so much for your thoughts, vibes and prayers.

I had a fair old list of Things To Do yesterday and, apart from dusting and sweeping my bedroom, they all got done as well as all the washing, drying, ironing and putting away. 

Then I sat down and worked on 'designing' the Advent quilt.  I found three backing grannies - the basic one for the alternate squares, a circular one for things like baubles, wreaths, etc and a solid one.  With the last two, I had to adapt the last round so I ended up with the same number of stitches on each one but it works so I'm happy.
It's all written down in my project book, the one I gave myself as one of last Christmas's Twelve Days gifts.

If I do two a day, I will end up with forty eight squares.  I have 'designed' one more picture one with a wee stable outline to go right in the middle of a 7x7.  I can do all the joining after Christmas (I know I have said all this before but I am thinking out loud here so, please, bear with me)

A photo of tryouts using scrap/spare yarn.  

I found and tested pictures, both part of the square and as appliqué, and both work fine.  With the integral ones, I can add deco to give them dimension - beads, bows, shiny things . . .

At the moment, I have twelve different ones.  I can either do them twice with different colourways or I can look for twelve more but I think that will be pushing it somewhat.

If you look around and don't mind sorting the instructions from the adverts, there's lots of free stuff out there as well as what you can find on YouTube.  Sadly, that lovely stocking pattern one of you kindly sent me is just too bulky so can't be used.  I've found a flat one instead.

And finally - should I make the edgings with sparkly yarn - I don't know.  What do you think?

Thanks for putting up with my rambling.  I thought it would be a lot easier than it actually is to sort it all out but I think I am nearly there!

On to today.  Tuesday is always Lindsey's Loaf Day to I've started the leaven and will see how it behaves.  It won't be so fast now because the ambient temperature is lower so I might get it done today or it  might be a cold overnight prove in the fridge!

I will get my bedroom dusted and swept and then I can get on with more craft clearing and reorganising.  It will feel so good when it is all done and dusted.

Are you in the middle of decluttering/sorting out before winter?  How is it all going?

My lovely friend, Mandy, was going to come over for lunch but both she and her partner have been poorly so we will reschedule.

I will love you and leave you now.  Have a great day, stay safe and well and I'll see you tomorrow.  xx

Monday

Good morning, everyone.  It's quite a windy start to the week here.  My garden is sheltered but look up to the tops of the surrounding trees and they are blowing around more - not too much but more than usual.  At the moment it's not cold and it's not wet but time will tell on that!  BBC weather says strong winds and sunshine - might be a great drying day!

I hope it's not soo bad your way.

What did I do - I almost can't remember.  I sorted out the chicken and the carcass stock is now in the freezer.  I . . . don't think I did much else, if truth be told.  It's always the same at the end of a project like the jacket.  For a few days I feel at a lose end before getting my teeth into something else.  No more pumpkins though!

However, this morning, before starting this, I started collating all the Christmas pattern stuff I have found end have started making decisions for my calendar.  I think every other square will be a conventional Granny in red, green and white, all traditional and bright, and the others will be solid grannies with festive appliques or patterns.  I have all sorts of pictures/patterns - tree, wreath, gift, snowflake, Santa, Santa's belt, stocking, star - you get the idea.  I can introduce other colours to them in the form of bows, beads, etc.

Subtle it won't be; the brighter and Christmassy the better.

If I do two a day, one picture and one trad granny, I will end up with 48 squares so if I make one more conventional one, I can do a 6x7 which will be quite a decent size.

Then, on the Twelve Days, I can join and edge before tucking it away for Christmas 2026 - if mankind hasn't imploded by then!
What do you think.

Today feels quite busy.

Circuits

Tidy up the weekend clutter

Dust and sweep downstairs

Change the bedding

Clean and tidy the kitchen.

None of these is too difficult or long lasting, they just need doing!

Finally, there is a bed for Ian, he in in the surgical ward in his own room and Stephanie can stay with him.   Hopefully the procedure should go ahead today so please, please keep them in your thoughts as it is quite a risky thing for him but absolutely necessary.

Many thanks.

Have a good day, everyone.   Stay well, be safe and be happy.  Bye.  xx

Sunday

 Morning, everyone.  Sunday begins and it's really nice here at the moment, a bit like yesterday morning, in fact.  That soon changed to cloud and rain in the afternoon but we will see about today!

The house is smelling delicious at the moment as I'm early roasting my Sunday chicken.  I like to do this, slice the meat cold and reheat what I'm needing for the meal.  I just think you get more out of it that way and it does make clearing up after the actual meal so much easier if the roasting part has already been done.

I haven't picked anything for a few days but this is my little harvest for yesterday.

Quite a lot of tomatoes but they need a few days to ripen off and several are split so I will soften them and push them through a sieved for pasta/pizza sauce.  I'll put the chillies in the freezer, the cucumber is over now - the last two fruits are the most peculiar shape!  And the runners keep running!

The little Advent cross stitch that Beth gave me is now ready to put away until Dec 1st.  I have replaced the terrible fabric with some good aida that I had and I have marked out the squares with thread so I can dive straight in.  I've also found a site that does free cross stitch lettering patterns and I have the pattern for Christmas and 2025
I'm doing it six squares across and five down and the middle row will be for the lettering. so it says 20  Christmas 25 (each number in a little square).

And I was excited that one of my Twelve Days of Christmas gifts arrived yesterday morning.  I won't show it now though, wait until after Christmas.

I'm going to wrap them all up, get the bags ready and get Beth to put them into the bags so I have no idea what is where.

Plans, plans, plans - but, after all, we only have two and a half months before Advent starts!

One plan that is now finished is this.

I've been making this for ages.  It's a made up pattern although the granny square is a familiar one - Sunburst, I think it is called.  I bought the yarn specially and it was a bit of a jump off the cliff because I had no idea if it would work but it did, it's finished at long last, and I like it.  Phew.

A bit of detail.

It looks better on and will be good under leggings and a patching jumper, I think.  Now the questions is shall I wear it for the Knit and Stitch show next month.  It's all indoors so I won't need to worry about coats, etc, but will it be too hot?  I'll ponder on that one.

Ooops, I've just been summoned to the kitchen by the smoke alarm - I forgot to turn on the extractor fan and the kitchen was smoky from the chicken roasting in the air fryer!

Yesterday was just one of those pottery, getting little things done.

I sorted out my memory box and discarded a load of cards from way back when, keeping just the ones that are now special to me.  I got some lovely messages from parents, children and colleagues when I retired and it was fun to read through them again - they made me feel that maybe I had made a difference in some small way.

I did some more yarn sorting and into those plastic storage cases.  It's all looking better now although I realise that I need to get my act together with all my counted cross stitch stuff too.  That's for another day, another week, probably!

I realise I have quite a lot of what you might call Christmas colour yarn, including some sparkly yarn.  That's good.

Late afternoon, I drove over to the Riverside precinct to have a look round some shops.  I looked in Home Bargains, HomeSense, Matalan and Food Warehouse.

I really wanted to go to the last but it was too good an opportunity to miss really.  I wasn't that spendy either - in HB I got some jars of roasted red peppers that were less that half the price of those in Morrisons - how can that be?  In HS I found a book and some soap for my Twelve Days bags, Matalan was a big disappointment with drab and dreary clothes (don't they get that people need cheering up at the moment) although there was some fun seasonal tableware which I don't need (no, I didn't) and then into FW where I got what I had set out for which is some of their SW ready meals which I am going to try and review (on t'other blog) this coming week as well as some wraps and the chicken that is now roasting and which worried the smoke alarm so much.

(better go and close the back door again; it's getting cold)

Actually, looking back, I did quite a lot but it didn't feel like that.  The best kind of day.

Today is more of the same.  The chicken is now cooked and I'm going to chill with a second coffee, my hooks, yarn and a free Hobbycraft pattern to make these.  Aren't they nice?

(photo and pattern from the Hobbycraft site).

And then I need to stop because how many autumnal pumpkins does anyone need?

(Don't say 'none'!)

Finally and most important, please may I ask you to spare a thought and/or a prayer for my friend Stephanie and her husband, Ian.
Ian is in hospital today for a procedure tomorrow.  He has a condition that makes this procedure very risky but it absolutely needs to be done.

Please pray/hope/whatever you do for medical skill, that everything is successful and that Ian comes through and is stronger and more healthy afterwards.

Thank you.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Take care, stay safe and be happy and I'll see you again tomorrow.  Bye.

Saturday

 Hieeee!  We have a nice, fine morning at the moment but there is a weather warning for heavy rain tomorrow and strong-ish wind for part of Monday.  I'm thankful for the warning and will tie up my runner beans more securely today.  They are still fruiting well and I don't want them cut short!  :-)

First of all - Alison, with your shortbread recipe, do you use the usual ratio of ingredients and replace some of the flour with semolina?  I'd love to have a go at this.

Yesterday started with Slimming World as usual.  It was really quiet and not many people stayed which was a shame, but I lost a bit of weight and am now quite close to being back in my target range so that's good.
Being on the social team, I stay and help to clear up afterwards.  I used to do things like put the tables and chairs away but since my back has been a bit fragile, they won't let me.  So I clear my area (I do the weighing) and then things like checking the kitchen, putting mugs away, other stuff that doesn't involve heavy lifting.  By the time I've done that, the chairs and tables are more or less done so I don't feel guilty that I'm not helping with them!  
I was wondering about that - I think it goes right back to childhood when my parents were always the ones who helped - to tidy up, get things out, make tea and coffee, all that sort of stuff.  I think I just acquired the vibe from them.  The problem with that is the then people think you must be a good organiser/leader which isn't necessarily the case. 
Anyway, it's lovely that the others make sure the oldie doesn't lift too much and stop her when she does!  😂

Then I did my weekly shop - so much money for very little; it's almost frightening how quickly prices are rising.  I know our food prices have been kept perhaps unnaturally low in the past but it is still worrying.  Anyway, I got what I needed and I'm rather hoping I won't need to shop next Friday.  That would be good.

I had a message from Alex.  Poor chap, he has some sort of virus and is feeling rough so there was no cookery lesson.  Quite apart from him feeling unwell, I don't want to catch anything from him just before a holiday!  Fingers crossed he will feel loads better again soon.

Some of you my remember I 'lost' my window cleaner (retirement) last year and decided I would do it myself to save money.  It was a good idea and worked well for a few months but my enthusiasm tailed off fairly quickly.  It's not a job I enjoy very much really.  So yesterday, a local company started cleaning my windows and it is so nice to look out through clean glass again.  They're coming every six weeks which is more often than Gary came, and they are doing the garden room windows as well.
I'm happy!

Today and tomorrow are both clear in my diary which feels nice.  Time to plan my meals, start getting stuff out* for Center Parcs and work out if I need to get anything, ponder on Festive matters, read, craft, catch up on stuff . . .
(*including things like dishwasher powder, cleaning cloths, etc, as well as coffee, etc - they do provide but not always enough)
And I do have some washing to do today, given that tomorrow will be wet.

It's definitely turned cooler, hasn't it.  I'm sitting here in my pjs and one of my snuggle hoods feeling nice and cosy.  I really don't want the heating on until the start of November if I can possible help it.  Fingers crossed!

Friday.

Morning!  How can it be Friday already?  It is crazy how quickly September is passing.  More than a third through - bonkers!

Well, we certainly had some weather yesterday afternoon.  It got blacker and blacker and then the heavens opened.   Of course, I grabbed the phone and did a quick video out the front (and stayed dry in the porch).  There was some thunder too and I think the sound is OK.

Hope it works.

I finished the two crocheted pumpkins and sat them with my little Autumn display.  They're not terribly well made as the yarn kept splitting but they work.  I think they look nice - they're the two bright ones to the right.

Chris and I had our usual chat and chuckle and then Val came round for lunch.  It was a lovely, sociable time.

The little (very cheap) gift bags I ordered for my Advent and Twelve Nights calendars arrived and they are just what I wanted.  Now I can start filling them.  With any luck, by the time December rolls around, I will have forgotten the specifics of what is in each bag so it is half a surprise!

Today starts with Slimming World, then the weekly shop and then Al is over.  Today he wants to make 'posh roasties' with Christmas in  mind.  In other words par boiled, dredged in flour and roasted in oil rather than the spray oil air fryer variety (which are very nice, just not as nice as the posh ones).

So that will be easy.

And then it's the weekend!  Again!

OK, better go and get ready for SW.  Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Thursday

Good morning again, everyone.

Well, the weather broke with a vengeance yesterday.  We had some sunshine to start with but then it clouded over, we had some very strong gusts of wind and some very heavy rain and by the evening it felt pretty chilly.  Not cold exactly, but enough for layers.  It's fine at the moment and the forecast is OK so let's hope . . .

Both the fitness classes were really good.  I'm well back into it again now and the back is definitely much easier and loosened up, and my strength, such as it is, has returned quickly.  I think it would have been harder if I hadn't done some of the summer classes Lindsey posted but it's really not quite the same as doing it with others or one to one.
I have SET live online this morning and I think that is then it for the week as far as classes are concerned.

Thanks for your nice comments about the bread.  I'm still getting a great deal of satisfaction from making and gifting it.  I would like to find a few more special loaves to try in the run up to Christmas . . . maybe a bit more challenging.  I need to look around.

Another happy thing I did yesterday was go online to Center Parcs and book a couple of evenings eating out in the village centre.
It's not something we have done much when there with Beth and Alex; we usually have one evening meal out and then we take it in turns for the other evenings, but I thought 'why not?' so Monday evening is booked at Hucks American diner sort of thing where they do really nice chicken fajitas and Thursday evening is at Bella Italia which speaks for itself!
(Slimming World?  What's Slimming World?)

That means I have two main meals to plan for which won't be a hassle at all and it takes any pressure off arrival evening and the evening before departure.
And it will be nice!
To be honest, I will probably get ready meals from the Parc Market - I remember they had some quite nice ones.

I've crocheted a pair of unnaturally bright pumpkins!  The stuffing arrived yesterday so they are now stuffed, sewn up and shaped.  All I need to do is get some green and make the stem, leaf and tendril for each one, to finish it off.  I'll take a photo when they're done.

I set to, got out loads of stash yarn, sorted it all out into colours, chucked out unreasonable tiny scraps (feeling slightly guilty as I did so), rewound balls and then got it all away into separate containers.  

I have invested in some of these - the photos is from the Temu site, by the way.  It's far neater than anything I could achieve!

There's five in a pack and, while they are not very robust, they are strong enough for what I want them for and you can get loads of yarn in each one without putting any strain on the zip (which is pretty good quality for what I paid - they don't stick, snag, etc)
Beth loved them when she saw them so I've got her some for her birthday - her main gift is the laptop but it's nice to have something to unwrap too.

So now some of my yarn is bee-yoo-tifully organised and I will get the rest done too - but not today.  Oh, my word - the mess while I was in the middle of it all, spread all over the carpet.  Thank goodness no-one turned up!

All these fairly little things cheered me up no end - they were satisfying!

Today starts with SET online, then I am off to Chris' for coffee and a jolly good chat and then Val is round for lunch.   In the evening it's the weekly Slim Win online chat.  So quite a full day but a very nice one indeed.

Have a good day yourselves, everyone.  Stay safe, be happy and take care.  See you tomorrow.  x

Wednesday and things to look forward to.

Morning.  Wednesday already and we had another gorgeously Autumnal day yesterday.  Today, unfortunately, doesn't look so good, but we will see.

First of all - I think I'm getting pretty good at this now.  Not expert, of course, but I can 'feel' the dough better and don't get so many flops.

The one at the back is sourdough but I have a lidded tin, cheap from the ubiquitous Temu, the kind designed to make 'sandwich' bread.  If it rises enough, it goes square - perfect for toasties, sandwiches, etc, while still keeping the sourdough vibe.  This didn't quite rise to the top; you can see the little brown bit where it touched the lid, but now I know how much dough to use, I might try it with a yeasted loaf next.

And the scoring is loads better!

One for Lindsey and one for Beth.

Sue, you were right, I found an almost finished crochet project, a rather gaudy, autumnal coloured jacket made with sunflower granny squares and nearly finished.  There's just the borders to do.
So I will finish it and might wear it when I go to the Knit and Stitch show next month.  Last year I saw loads of fab hand made things people were wearing - they looked great!

Groove was really good again yesterday and this morning Lindsey is doing another Groove class with online access so I'm catching that to make up for the one I will miss in a fortnight.  Then I have personal training this afternoon.  

I also have to catch up with Sewing Bee - I'm trying very hard to avoid finding out who went out because I like them all.

Today's positivity is to thinking on all the good things I am looking forward in my very fortunate and easy life in the next couple of months.

Nice things I'm looking forward to.

1.  Val is coming round tomorrow and I am going to hers in October

2.  My weekly coffee and chats with my lovely friend, Chris.

3.  Another meet up with the lovely Mandy.

4.  Fitness classes - yes, I really do enjoy them and am very lucky to have access to them.

5.  Five days at Center Parcs.

6.  A free Thermomix course in town - Discover the Flavours of Romania.

7.  Modernising my boiler, etc.  Yes, it will be chaos and costly but great when it's done and dusted and should cut the gas bills somewhat.  After all, what are savings for?

8.  Another free Thermomix course in town - Level up the Flavours (multi cooking using the Thermomix 7)

9.  The Knit and Stitch show at Alexandra Palace (and an extra state pension next month so I can spend a bit!)

10.  Christmas Cake Day (aka remembering my Mum on her birthday) - I love Christmas Cake Day and it's why I can never NOT make a Christmas cake.

11.  Beth's birthday

12.  Planning my Advent Calendar

(and that takes me to the end of October)

How about you - what good things are you looking forward to?

Have a lovely day, stay safe and be happy.  Bye.  xx