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