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!