Tuesday

    Good morning, one and all.  Yesterday was such a beautiful day round here.  Sunny, warm and a two load drying afternoon.  Perfectly autumnal!

It was satisfying in other ways too.  I so enjoyed circuits - it felt great to be back to it, feeling so much better again.

The SEND coffee morning was just great.  Obviously, no details, but really good info sharing and discussion and ideas for future development.

In the afternoon, I gritted my teeth, opened up the SEND training, whizzed through the bits done previously and got it all done and dusted by ignoring any links that would take me elsewhere.  I made a note of things I know I should read (some stuff I already know) and will catch up on them later but it now shows on my training record as completed so phew.  I now have a clear conscience for a while.

And I got two loads washed and line dried in the sunshine.  Lovely!

The next coach trip newsletter landed and I've booked for one that is a tour of the poppy factory and then a cruise from Richmond to Westminster next May (I think - it is in the new diary now anyway!).

Finally, I had parcels.  I now have a working toaster again, my diary for 2026 is here (and filled in with stuff already organised - Crete, coach trips, etc) and I have the rest of B's birthday present.  Now I need to wrap it all up!
I tried the new toaster with a slice in the evening and it really made me realise how much the old toaster had been slowly giving up.  It was quick and toasted so evenly.  And the slots are much bigger too - perfect to crumpets, sourdough, bagels, etc.

And Beth finally tested negative yesterday evening.  That's a relief.  Thank you for all your kind wishes for her.  xx

Today is Groove day and after that I am off to Diane's for lunch and a jolly good catch up natter.  
I had a sourdough loaf doing it's final prove overnight   and that's now out and warming up.  I need to get it baked before I go to Groove because I want to take it over for Diane.  Also I have started Lindsey's weekly loaf so I can get all the slap and folds done and it can slowly ferment in the fridge during Groove and, maybe, I can get it into the banneton before going to Diane's.  If not, no worries, I can do it all when I get home again.
Housework?  Er - what housework?

Wishing everyone a good day.  Stay safe and well.  xx

Monday

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to my Monday morning blog.  The wind seems to have settled good and proper now and we had plenty of sunshine yesterday so it was really cosy and warm inside.

I spent some time sorting out clutter and donned my chef's hat, making a loaf for Beth, roasting my turkey breast joint for Sunday dinner and used up some leek that was - er - going a big manky (I threw those bits away!) to make lentil and leek soup - because it is definitely soup season now.

I took Beth's loaves round to her.  Alex is fine now and she's a fair bit better - not that I stayed to chat but she sounded loads better.

I worked on the  jumper I am crocheting.  It's nearly finished, I just have to do the rib around the bottom which is taking some time.

When I have finished that, I want to maybe design and make a granny blanket with a a patchwork effect.

A bit like this (not my work, I hasten to add, and isn't it lovely?) except that I want to incorporate rectangles as well.  I'll be using scraps so the colours will be very random but it should be fun, don't you think?

Finally, I am wearing my halo at the moment!

Not only did I get the Safeguarding training done, I also ploughed my way through the Keeping Children Safe In Education document so I can honestly declare that I have read it all at the meeting on Wednesday.
Some of it is essential readying, some of it doesn't apply to governors, but I decided I'd read the lot - not that I can remember much of it.

I even located and started the SEND governor training but something went wonky and I seem to have lost everything I did which is a right nuisance.  I'll try again this afternoon and see if there's any way I can save what I have done before clicking on links I need to read.

So, today starts with circuits.  Then it is a quick tidy up before setting off to school for a SEND coffee morning with staff and parents.  Then, this afternoon, I will see if I can get that other training done and dusted.  If not, I will need to ask the Clerk why I keep losing what I have done.

Monday should be housework day but I will have to leave it for another day, I think.  Isn't that a shame??!!

Right - better get the day started.  Have a good one, everyone.  xx

Sunday

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to Sunday's blog.
It seems to have all calmed down now after a very gusty day yesterday.  It was mostly lovely and sunny though and it was nothing compared with other parts of the UK so I am both thankful and concerned that you are all OK if you were more affected.

It was also quite a full day.  It started off quite slowly before I caught the half ten bus into town.  I'm glad I didn't wait until eleven because the main road into town was closed (something about some sort of leak that they needed to find) so the bus had to take a diversion which slowed things considerably - people didn't know so the driver had to keep explaining.  It wasn't his fault but people weren't happy!

Anyway, once in town, I headed off to Moulsham Street to Franklins and had a good nosey round.  It's only a little shop with more shelves than walking space, so upstairs (where the yarn is) was more than a bit crowded but I am very glad so many people came and bought!  I got a couple of balls that I wanted (note- I'm not saying 'needed') to finish off the jumper I am making and then headed downstairs to talk sewing machine stuff.

Yes, they can service my mum's Bernina, the price starts at £150, and yes, they can get feet for me.  Because it is pretty retro (sounds better than 'old'), my machine doesn't have a concealed zip foot and I also want a walking foot.  So I hope I will be taking it in some time next week although it's a pretty busy week so it might have to wait until the following week.

Then I went to the Thermomix cooking demo.

These are the Thermo team ladies.

There were quite a lot of us there.  Four or five ladies who were new to Thermomix, one couple who had a version 3.1 which is really vintage now and that nice Australian lady I met last week at the previous demo!  She has a 6, I think, and is thinking about getting the new one.

It's all free and, of course, it's about 'getting the word out' but I asked specifically and anyone can go, whether you are interested in getting a Thermomix or not.  Obviously, they plug the Thermomix but it is in no way a hard sell.  I am booked for two more demos at the moment.  One is about making sushi and the other is Christmas cookery using the Thermomix.  I wonder if Beth and Alex might be interested - I must ask.

Anyway, they cooked chicken curry and rice, a delicious pea and ginger soup, steamed salmon with potatoes and mixed veg and sticky toffee pudding and they had pre-made Portuguese bread (must have a go at that), whipped feta and mascarpone (wow), pumpkin pie and brownies.
Lunch was good.  Far from Slimming World friendly but so delicious!

I had intended to pop into a few shops on the way back to the bus but I was full, tired, my feet were a bit sore (I'm getting old), everywhere was busy and it looked as if it was going to rain (it didn't).  I did pop into one shop as I realise most of my kitchen white goods are getting pretty old and, while they are still working fine (fingers crossed while typing this), they are going to go at some point, so I was just looking at what's available.

So it was quite funny when I toasted some bread last night to realise that my toaster is on the way out.  It's been fine until last night.
A toaster is just a toaster - I will look on Amazon.  I only need a bog-standard one.

I enjoyed Strictly very much.  As always, you can see who will be going pretty quickly and who could stay till the end.  I have my favourites and was surprised and pleased to see that the 'only voting online' comes with an increase in the number of votes.  You now have five!  Excellent.

Today I will be tidying the bomb site this morning (how can it be such a mess when I was out yesterday?) and this afternoon I have to do an online Governor's training thingy.  I'll do the safeguarding one first because that's a must, before starting the SEND one which I can finish tomorrow afternoon.

And that's my day.  Nothing exciting!

Have a great Sunday, all.  Stay safe, stay warm, stay dry and have a lovely day.  xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone, and I really hope that those of you living further north are OK while Amy is moving across N Ireland and Scotland.  I know there's a fair few hours to go so fingers crossed.  I'm thinking of brother, John, who doesn't live in the eye of the storm but quite close enough, thank you!!

It's been gusty here overnight but everything in the garden stayed put, even the egg chair which has a tendency to blow over - it's still windy but nothing to stop anyone from doing anything.

And the sun is shining!  Lovely.

Yesterday was good and felt quite busy.  Slimming world was fun, as always.  As predicted, I had no problems spending the necessary £60 in Morrisons; it was a fair bit more, in fact, but I got loads of shelf stable stuff, mostly cans, so I was happy with that.    To explain, it's a More Points thing - spend £60 every week for three specified weeks (in total, not just one shop) and get £15 worth of More vouchers.  One has to be careful not to spend just for the sake of spending, but £180 in a month, given Christmas is close and with things the cost they are, it's not a stupid amount and, with thought and a list, achievable with normal purchases.  I've been saving my More vouchers all year and, by December, should have £70 of them saved which will be a great contribution towards Beth's Christmas food (I'm going to hers this Christmas).

I decided to get out and about so I visited a few shops at the Clock Tower.  M&S first where I had a good look round.  They are still going through autumn/Hallowe'en but they've closed the coffee shop and are converting it to a 'specials' area.  They had some Christmas stuff in but not loads yet.

They I meandered round Dunelm and treated myself to some nice smelly stuff - candles and reed diffuser fill ups, very nice and very reasonable.  There was some gorgeous, soft, tartan bedding and, if I hadn't already got enough festive bedding, I would have fallen for it.  As it was, my halo remained intact.

And then to Aldi where I got some bits and pieces for my reverse advent and food bank donations.  I haven't mentioned that for a while, have I?  They're really stocking up for Christmas now.

And a few parcels arrived.  It is Chris' grandson's birthday next week and it was his gift.  I am so pleased with it.  It's a nice child's baking set (Lakeland) and I also ordered some Christmas cookie cutters and a simple Christmas baking recipe book from Amazon which I will give at the beginning of December rather than for the 25th.  He loves helping Chris in the kitchen and when I asked her, she thought it was a great idea
Won't his parents love me!!!!!!!!!

On to today.  I'm running a bit late because I slept in and then stayed in bed reading.

I have time though.  I'm taking the bus into town, walking to Franklins for their yarn sale and then over the road to the Thermomix studio for a demo (free and you get to eat the food!) before walking back to the bus and popping into a few shops on the way.   

And then it is Strictly this evening, of course.   I already have a few favourites!  Voting is just online now and I hope the site can cope.  Before you could vote by phone (unlimited times but it cost) or on the site (three votes only).  I think it's fairer for everyone to have three votes but - well, we will see.

Anyway - time to stop rambling, get my Facebook stuff done (avoiding all the nasty toxicity there now) and then get the day started.

Again, I hope everyone is safe in storm Amy.  Take care, all, and see you tomorrow.  xx

Friday

Morning, everyone! 
It's raining out there but, for now, perfectly calm.  There's some nasty stuff heading towards the UK and, while the south will probably miss the worst, we are forecast to get winds in the 40mph range overnight and tomorrow morning with a lot of rain today but not tomorrow.  
It will be interesting to see how much less sheltered my garden is now that the tree has gone.  I'm suspecting a fair bit but I will see.

Talking of garden - a few photos, not taken in the sun, sadly, but never mind:

It's been such a good year for the blueberry, the best yet, and it is beautiful with its autumn leaves almost shining in sunlight.

Quite a lot of green tomatoes on plants that are weary and giving up.  They will have to come in soon and take their chance of ripening on a tray.

The dahlias have been wonderful this year but, I think, on their last legs for the season now.  I can't keep up with the dead heading.
I look forward to next year's show now.

Yesterday, Chris and I had a really good online chat and sorted out when and where we are having out Christmas lunch.  I know it is early but these things to get booked up - as do our diaries!  She phoned, booked, and that's one Christmas lunch sorted.

After my lapse of memory, I went through my diary noting everything I have in there for October:

every Friday is Slimming World and weekly shop

some Fridays have Alex's cookery lesson - but not today now, see below

the fitness classes as usual

one Thermo demo - Levelling up the Flavours

one yarn sale at Franklins (oh, dear)

a SEND coffee morning at school
over to Diane's for lunch

one flu jab

Knit and Stitch show at the Ally Pally (double oh, dear!)

Val here or me to Val - I need to check

another Thermo demo - Making Sushi

Christmas cake day (celebrating my Mum's birthday)

Beth's birthday

a governors' meeting and two online gov training courses (which I MUST do this weekend

and then, on November 1st - yet another Thermo demo - Festive Flavours with Thermo

Hmm - better keep checking the diary, hadn't I?  :-)

Today starts, as always, with Slimming World followed by the Weekly Shop.  I want to spend £60 (or more) as there's a Christmas points offer on for last, this and next week which is too good to ignore and it's not hard to spend £60 in a shop nowadays.  I'll get some shelf stable stuff for the store cupboard, if necessary.

Then it was going to be Alex's cookery lesson - roast chicken. However, poor Beth has been proper poorly; she tested yesterday and yup, it is Covid.  Alex hasn't been well either although not as bad as Beth so he's probably had it too.
No cookery lesson this week!

I was going to meet up with her in town tomorrow.  Not now!

We just can't get away from these viruses, can we?

I hope you are all OK.  Have a great Friday and hopes that the weather isn't too extreme/damaging where you are, as storm Any passes over!

xx

Thursday

Morning all.  It's a bit dull today and I gather there's some nasty stuff on the way for tomorrow and Saturday.  Ho hum, if it's not one thing, it is another!

This is the sort of thing I am looking for to put in the airing cupboard.  I will need to check the height but just imagine two, one in front of the other.  It will give me great depth of storage.

Yesterday was - er - interesting.

Having said I would be going out, I changed my mind and stayed in.  That was just as well because late morning there was a knock on the door and, lo and behold, it was Sharon to do my hair.  Yes, it was in the diary.  No, my brain hadn't registered it!  
I did feel better once she had finished and wasn't it lucky I decided to wash my hair yesterday morning.

And thank goodness I didn't go out!

Matt got back to me with another start date.  Mid November.  He said he would bring heaters etc, and I have some alternative heaters too - fan and halogen and I can always decamp to the garden room.

Then I went over to Lindsey's for PT.  I can't say I did terribly well but I did my best.  Lindsey reminded me that she has an apartment over her garage that I could come to if it is very cold when Matt does the work.  If I have no hot water at home, I might very well go over for the night - or two.  Isn't that lovely of her.

It is really her son's place but he is working abroad at the moment.

Nearly forgot - my flu jab notification came through so I clicked the link and have booked my slot.  Can't remember when off the top of my head but it IS in the diary!

All this week I have been very clumsy, spilling things, making splashes, tipping the contents of my Thermomix bowl all over the working top (fortunately next to the sink), splashing my water over Lindsey's studio floor yesterday - just generally not being quite as nimble fingered as usual.  I think my brain stayed at Center Parcs when I came home!
It came to a climax yesterday evening.  I was carrying my bowl of chilli and pasta out of the kitchen when somehow it jumped out of my grasp and landed on the carpet.  Food side down. 

Aaaarrrgggghhhh.

It is safe to say that the carpet turned red and the air turned blue!!

So top task today is to give the carpet another scrub.

Chris and I have decided that, given we are both still sniffly with what appears to be different viruses, we will have our chat online today rather than face to face.  Neither of us is mean but there's sharing and then there's sharing!!
Actually, neither of us feels that we are infectious now but better safe than sorry.

I've started off a sourdough leaven for Beth and, as she seems to be right out of good bread, I'm also going to make her one of my yeasted loaf specials packed with healthy wholemeal flours and seeds.

I might go out but tomorrow is busy, what with Slimming World, the weekly shop and Alex's cooking lesson (roast chicken!) so I might just focus on getting things straight indoors and do a bit of gardening if the weather is kind.

What are your plans for today?

Wednesday

Good morning again, one and all.  Welcome to October.

First things first - Matt is not starting the boiler work today.  I am so glad a emailed him because his wife is in hospital for an operation next week and a family member is ill in hospital at the moment and it would be terrible if he picked anything up from me.  I totally agreed with him that deferring the date would be right and proper.

This thing seems to be easily caught.  I must have picked it up at Center Parcs somehow and I wasn't close to anyone for any length of time.

Thankfully, yesterday was start-feeling-better day and today even more so.  I won't be doing a catch up class this morning but I am definitely going to Personal Training this afternoon because it is what it says on the label - personal.

Instead of a busy day with Matt here, I have an empty day (apart from PT).  The airing cupboard is empty but it can stay empty, there's no need to put the towels back; they can just sit on the spare bed!
I've been looking around for some shelving that can go into the space that will be left by the immersion tank thingy and have found some likely looking ones - slatted shelves and I can put two one in front of the other for added depth.  Before I get them, the inside will need to be painted and I can't do that until the work is done.  

So I might go out for a drive and look round a few shops - I need some fresh air and, Matt to the contrary, I honestly don't think I am infectious now.  Even the cough has subsided.  He is right not to want to risk it though.

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