Continuing a Sunny Day

This morning I made Pea and Pancetta Soup having been stimulated to do so by the frolicking foodie. I had it hot at lunchtime and chilled in the evening.

I have posted the recipe in my recipe blog, so won’t repeat it here.

After that I ventured into the “garden” and added fertiliser to the bay and the rosemary, then I went and filled up a watering can, added some Baby Bio and watered all my recently planted begonias.

As I was taking the watering can back, I was very glad to have a helping hand as I was starting to find it difficult keeping my balance.

After that I made potato salad to add to some lettuce, Marks and Spencer 4 Mediterranean salads, tomatoes and cucumber.

The sun has shone all day and the temperature has been really warm. I kept the top half of the French window open all day. I can’t remember the last time I was able to do that.

I do hope it lasts…….

Sumer is icumen in,. Lhude sing cuccu..

This morning I wakened and thought I had slept in as the room was so bright.

In fact it was quite early and what was causing the brightness was...

... wait for it...

SUNSHINE.

It is a beautiful day with blue skies and the sun fair splitting the heavens.

I may even be able to get out and feed the bay and the rosemary; the former is looking rather yellow (jaundice anyone???) and the latter is flowering. Both are in pots, and would probably do better in the soil, but I like to keep them handy by the french windows.

TBSITW has promised to come and put my two busy lizzies into the border. They have become top heavy for their pots and even blew over in the wind. I now have the pots jammed in amongst other pots.

As I looked looked up from the monitor and out of the window, I saw a small bird hopping in around the branches of a rose bush. It kept it up for about 5 minutes.

Later......

..... It was good to have so many complimentary remarks about my hair when I went for tea.

After that I returned to my flat to unpack my shopping and discovered that the House manager had left a parcel on my bed for me. It was some Noilly Prat as I had discovered that it was cheaper from Waitrose than anywhere else (and no postage). As I was rearranging things, including putting some bottles of wine into the kitchen cupboard, I realised that the wine rack was too close to the wall leaving the bottles in an unsteady position.

So, I attempted to straighten it, away from the wall.

Oh, yes, you are ahead of me again...

In front of the rack was a bottle of Harveys Bristol Cream (which I don't like, but I had bought for a neighbour - though when she called, she decided she would rather have a Noilly Prat!!!!!)

In the process of straightening the wine rack, one bottle knocked the Bristol Cream onto the floor, where it smashed.

So, I started the process of clearing up the mess, and after some time on my knees, realised that I wasn't going to be able to finish the job.

Fortunately I caught the House Manager before she left for home and she came and finished the job (which in fact was the bulk of the job).

Okay, so it is all now cleared up again and I sat down and had my meal.

I meant to mention that, when I was in M&S, as usual they had flowers at the checkout to tempt one (as bad as sweeties at the checkout to tempt the children!)

So I bought a bunch of Sweet William. They took me back to a holiday that tbsitw and I spent in Cornwall prior to the handfasting of younger son and tddil. There we found bunches of Sweet William at the end of a track, with an honesty box. It is so nice to have that memory again.

The Hairdresser - and a Shopping Opportunity

Set off this morning quite early, so decided to go to the Post Office in the near by small town. For some reason, instead of taking my usual route to leave this town (the lowest one), I took the middle one.

Imagine my surprise when I saw, at the corner of a side road, a small general store and Post Office, so I took the next left and went round in a square to get back to it, and got my parcel posted. Apparently it has been there for almost 2 years!

So off I went with that job done, and on my way the signs on the overhead gantries were warning that an escorted load was ahead and to expect delays. Right enough, traffic was slow, but no sign of the escorted load. What did slow us down was, later on, an outdoor exhibition, with a lot of traffic turning into the car park.

Eventually arrived at shopping mall and went to M&S where I got some nice salad stuff, including pea shoots. Now, I remember frolicking foodie had a recipe for pea shoot soup, so I must look it up. I then had a cup of tea and a cheese scone with butter (a good start to my low fat diet - NOT), then had a look at the clothes. I found black trousers like the ones I wear (and I have lost a pair here - perhaps in the laundry room?), so of course I bought two pairs - because I am always afraid they won't stock them any more.

Then off to the hairdresser where I have a super cut and a colour. Don't tell TBSITW or she will give me a row;-)

Finally off back home with a clear run and in time to join the ladies in the lounge for a cup of tea and to pay the milkman.

The weather today has been mixed, starting off with just a smirr, then moving on to heavy rain, and it is dry now. Even with no sun it has been quite mild.

Of Returns and Mixed Weather

This morning I was on the phone to Lands End as I discovered I had ordered the wrong item by mistake (in fact 2 of them in different colours)..The girl at the call centre couldn't have been more helpful and between us we tracked down exactly what I wanted. I chose a black fleece, but didn't really want any of the other 3 colours; however the girl said that they did in fact have some in a creamy colour, which will be nice for summer (if we get summer). She said she had one in that colour and really liked it.

So I now have the two incorrect ones parcelled up for a full refund, and await the new ones.

She asked me what the weather was like here, so I opened the bedroom curtains and said it was wet and horrible and promptly closed the curtains again!

I should point out that my computer and so on are at one end of my bedroom, (making a bedroom/study) so I am up, showered and dressed, often for quite some time before I open the curtains!

Later, the best sister in the world came with her three legged friend, who had just been to the vet. We had a grand chat and a cup of tea (and water and biscuits for the dog) and then when I saw her out to the car, I discovered that, not only did the day look nice, but also it was really warm.

Summer again.

Mark it well in case this is the last day of summer!

Bridge Again

I mentioned on Monday that I hoped to have found a partner.

Well, this morning she telephoned and came round for coffee. We had a bit of a chat about our backgrounds and then talked bridge talk. We have decided to play together every Monday (apart from this coming Monday when she can't make it) and that we shall meet on a Wednesday morning for bridge talk. I mentioned that I had been given a tutorial book when I started, but didn't find it helpful on my own, so we are going to have a look at it next week.

Oh, I am so excited!

It has been so long since I had a regular partner, and from our chat I think we can get on all right with playing. The idea is that we will just play on a Monday at the club (and of course the Wednesday learning bit) with a view to playing regularly on a Tuesday evening too. This latter is described as "social bridge" but is quite cutthroat!

Physio and Things...

Up and dressed in plenty of time this morning and decided that I had plenty of time for breakfast. So i went to the kitchen and tried to cut Sunday's loaf to make some French toast - knew it would be too hard for just eating and too small for the toaster.

So, I steadied the loaf with my left and and tried to cut a slice with my right...

Ah, you're ahead of me here.

Yes, another failed suicide attempt ;-). Bled like a stuck pig though. Put on a plaster with dressing. Shortly blood was coming through, so I put another one on on top of the first one.

Now no time for breakfast, so I had a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice instead and went on my (slightly shaky) way.

Managed most of the class this morning apart from the exercises which required me to grip with my left hand.

Came back and went to big garden centre for a cheese scone and apple juice - this one was bramley apple and was quite sharp. Then I picked up a couple of loaves of bread and some nibbles before going to buy some energy saving light bulbs. My ceiling lights use round bulbs and they never seem to last long, so I am replacing them as they go with energy saving ones, and hope they do longer. They had better, as they are really quite expensive.

The weather today is grey skies and quite a wind. The external car thermometer said it was 12. degrees, but it felt much colder

Bridge, Bridge, Bridge!

Today, as usual, I went to the bridge club, where there were not very many players, so we played singles (don't ask - I still don't really understand.) However, this week I got talking to another lady who has recently moved to the area, has played bridge before, but is feeling a little unsure of herself.

So, we have decided to play together on a Monday afternoon to get a better handle on how we each play, with a view to playing together on Tuesday evenings.

This is such wonderful news, and I do hope we get on.

Another beautiful day, but just as I was about to leave for the bridge club, someone came in and mentioned that it was very cold in the wind, so I returned for my fleece. Needn't have bothered, but once a girl guide, always a girl guide.

Church and Shopping

To Church today for the second Sunday in Trinity. It was, as usual, a good sermon based this time on the letter of St Paul to the Galateans, and moving away from the view that Christianity was merely a sect of Judaism, with all Christians bound by the laws of the Old Testament, rather than of Christ in the New Testament.

Before we sang the last hymn, the minister told us that a young man (16 years old) was to play Bach's Toccata and fugue in D minor at the end and that anyone who wished to stay could do so. I haven't heard that played in Church since I was young and attended Inverleith Church in Edinburgh when the organist would play it from time to time. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

He got a very strong ovation at the end, and when I turned round to leave, I was delighted to see that most of the congregation had waited to hear him. On my way out, I discovered that he had started playing the organ only last September.

After that I went to the big supermarket beginning with a T and took back one of their "bags for life" and told the lady at Customer Services that it had died. So now I have two. She apologised that it was not the same design, but that was of no import. Got some greens and a lettuce as I have run out and creme fraiche and fruit compote. To my shame I also bought some grated cheddar as sometimes I find that the thought of grating can put me off altogether.

Washing and cooking

Today has been a beautiful day with the sun shining, and, as usual, I was stuck indoors doing my washing - first wash, my bedding (from a double bed) and other light coloureds, then my dark coloureds.

Went down to the laundry room and fell really lucky as all the machines were empty so I was able to take the big washer to do my double bedding and then later did my dark wash.

Lunch was more of the spinach soup.

Planned to make rhubarb crumble and custard but caved in to the laziness gene and plan on making stewed rhubarb with ice cream.

I have been rather wobbly on my pins today, staggering into furniture and walls and so on - such a pain. And I can assure you that I have never descended to taking anything stronger than orange juice or tea in the morning

Family Visit

Today I went to visit brother and sister-in-law. They put on a super lunch and I could hardly get to eat it for responding to questions :-). They are a lovely couple and spend so much time visiting their children and grandchildren. My brother always likes to know how all my clan are doing too.

I returned my borrowed books plus videos for their younger grandchildren - the older one is long past that - and have taken away 3, one to pass on to tbsitw, then on to charity and the other two for me to read and return.

It was such a good visit. I love them dearly.

On the way home, I did a quick pop in to a big supermarket at the shopping mall and picked up a couple of bottles of Noillly Prat.

Traffic on the way home wasn't nearly as bad as I might have feared (the rush hour builds up early on a Friday) and I got home safe.

Baking

Having picked myself up and dusted myself down after yesterday's blog, and in addition having telephone calls from both sons and from younger son's wife, I am moving on and waiting to see what happens.

When I go to visit anyone I usually take a "wee gift" in the form of a bottle of wine, a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates, whatever.

Tomorrow I am going to visit my brother and his wife. Brother does not drink, sister-in-law keeps the most magnificent garden, so flowers would be rather coals to Newcastle.

So I had a good idea and decided to bake a cake, or at least little sponge buns. Now I haven't baked these since my children were young, so I wasn't quite certain how they would turn out.

First mistake was to forget to take the butter out of the fridge for creaming, so it was a really difficult job and my hands and shoulder are quite sore. I made 18 buns, and made fairy cakes with about half (at least the butter was now soft for the butter icing) and iced buns with the rest.

I am taking a box with a mixture of these to my sister-in-law tomorrow.

I have loaded the books and videos in the boot of the car (we keep a running library service going) to take tomorrow.

I discovered, when I went to the car that it is a really nice warm day today.

Re the fall on Saturday, I have a beautiful bruise about the size of a spread hand on my left hip. However, it is not causing me any trouble.

The Bad News ..... And The Bad News

As my regular reader may remember, I damaged my new hob and put in an insurance claim, I got the response that the claim would be met, but with an excess of £250.

Okay, so that was the first bad news.

I got a letter from the factors confirming this and I fired off a photocopy to the kitchen company.

Today (after a delay of almost a fortnight, I received back from the kitchen company a photocopy of my photocopy, together with an invoice for the full amount.

I immediately phoned the kitchen company to find out what was happening.

Turns out that we had placed different interpretations on what the letter meant. I thought I paid £250 and sent that receipt to the factors whereupon they would pay the balance to the kitchen company, whereas they expected me to pay the full amount then get the balance from the insurance company.

Are you paying attention at the back, or have you fallen asleep?

Ouch.

I am a pensioner and I would have some difficulty in finding this money.

So I phoned the factors and the kitchen company had placed the correct interpretation on the letter. I explained my difficulty in finding this sum (£250 was bad enough, but over £900???), so the factors are going back to the insurers to try and get the cheque made out to me - rather than to the kitchen company - and then I would be in a position to pay the invoice.

Wait and see.

I got myself in a bit of a state about all this.

However, it was very therapeutic to make spinach soup.

More Exercises

Perhaps as a result of Saturday's fall, I found I was struggling a bit at the class this morning, but at least I managed to complete the circuit.

On my way home, my car was drawn irresistibly into the correct lane to enter the garden centre, so what could I do?

I managed to find a disabled parking bay near the front doors, and went in and had a cheese scone and butter with a glass of ginger and lemongrass presse.

The vegetable box this morning had potatoes, carrots and onions together with a white cabbage, a lettuce, a bag of spinach, and several stalks of rhubarb. The fruit comprised 2 apples, 2 onions, 2 bananas and a kiwi fruit, and as usual, half a dozen eggs.

I am going to make some spinach soup (the light version using semi-skimmed milk instead of cream), and I shall also have to make a rhubarb crumble. There was a recipe for this included with the rhubarb, so I shall try that out later this week.

Bridge

Today the weather was beautiful, with the sun shining, although the wind was still on the cold side.

I have probably cast a spell on the rest of the "summer" by changing into a t-shirt and cardigan. It is so nice to get in to a car that feels warm before the heater kicks in - it is even better when you have to use the air conditioning to cool the car down.

This afternoon I was once again back at the bridge club and played with the same partner as last week.

As I may have mentioned, last week we played as two teams, and as I discovered this week, our team one.

Once again, I returned too late to have a cup of tea with the scrabble crowd.

I feel that I am moving more and more away from them, but this is no bad thing as I am making friends away from this block of flats.

Trinity Sunday

Today the sun is shining but the wind is really quite cold. Went to Church this morning for Trinity Sunday.

We had a Baptism today. This baby was probably about 4 months - 6 months old, and it was so funny to see her at the actual baptism; she didn't cry at all, but obviously really could not be bothered with all this water, and "fisted" it off her face, but was not really happy until she had used her hands to wipe off the water from the hair at the back of her head.

Why do I always cry when the congregation sing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" as the baby is introduced to the congregation. The tears are even more predictable here than at a wedding, though having said that..........

The readings were from St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

I had not realised that the people of Corinth were famous, in fact notorious, for licentiousness
and the Greek word for erotic love is eros (this is where we got the term erotic).

What St Paul was preaching to the Corinthians was the other kind of love (agape) meaning selfless love.

One of the texts was of course 1st Corinthians Chapter 13, which in the King James version starts "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels.."

This passage, when it talks of charity means love (agape, selfless love).

It is also my favourite passage from the New Testament.

Confession Time

In my last post I wrote that I was going to go back to the supermarket after Church today; however I rather thought I might spend more on petrol than I might gain by having the prices corrected.

So I phoned instead yesterday afternoon. After some time I got a call back saying that all the prices were correct.

Ooops.I never buy wine at £13.99 a bottle, so I really did get carried away.

The other thing that I did not mention yesterday was that I had a silly fall. I was trying to put on a certain item of underwear, and had the left foot through the leg hole and was balancing on that foot and with my right shoulder leaning against the chest of drawers, when I overbalanced and fell, landing on my left hip. No damage done and I got up again quickly and resumed dressing.

Last night I discovered that I had in fact bruised my hip and I wakened every time I turned over to that side in my sleep.

Still, worse disasters at sea (and I am so lucky not to have broken anything yet.).

I see this morning that I have quite a bit of bruising over the area.

Once Again, With Feeling...

Went this morning to near by small town to have the new spare tyre and decal fitted. Got there bang on 10 am as promised, parked in the forecourt, bent down to pick up my handbag..

..and there it was gone.

So back home again, collected handbag then back to garage.

Job done quickly.

So then I went on to a Metro branch of that supermarket that begins with T.

I had tried to place an order on-line with the one that starts with A, but so many things that I wanted were unavailable that I aborted.

At least I had a shopping list.....

I very rarely shop on foot as I find it too tiring, but thought I would have a go this time as it was a small branch.

Managed to find everything on my list.

However, I had forgotten how easy it was to be tempted when the goods were there in front of me...

So, over and above the list I bought Yeo Valley organic fruit compote and organic creme fraiche to go with it, and came up against some seriously good wine offers - half price on wines costing usually £14 or so - a claret, a Rioja and so on, and also 2 books for £7.

When I got to the checkout, the bill was over £100.....

Got back home, unpacked the shopping then checked the supermarket bill.

Okay, I know you should do this before you leave, but I defy anyone to hold up a growing queue to do this.

What has transpired is that the till programming did not recognise all the wine discounts.

So, I shall go back tomorrow after Church.

The Car - Again

Today I was up at the crack of dawn, and headed to Kwik-Fit . I first visited them on 25 April, which is 3 weeks ago. I made several phone calls and one visit to find out what was happening about my spare wheel. The last call was two days ago where I got a new manager who told me to come in today. There I was at 9am.

So he had a look at it.

And said I would have to go to the Vauxhall garage as they couldn't supply it.

Now, why didn't somebody tell me this before now?

So, off to nearby small town to Vauxhall garage. They will have a new wheel, tyre and trim in for tomorrow morning.

I am not getting my hopes too high, but....

And the downside?

£135.

Ouch.

and it would be at the same time as I am having to pay a £250 excess on my insurance claim for my hob.

Still at least the weather is better, with temperatures in the low teens.

That Stepper Again

Today the weather is back to being grey, but still not bad for a spring day. I get so much pleasure from the plants I have planted...

... even although my family and certainly my GP would have been most displeased that I had, once again, put myself in harm's way putting them in. Okay, they would have been right, but I do feel that there is a difference between just being alive and living life to the full...

My 2 cleaning ladies arrived and admired my planting and were made somewhat hungry (as was I) by the smell of baking bread.

This evening I had 3 lamb and mint sausages, from the butcher at the garden centre, with two stalks of white sprouting broccoli and a stalk of leek (chopped) and a carrot and some potato. Really good, but so easy that it was not worth posting to my recipe blog.

I have not been mentioning the stepper., but have been using it since the day it arrived. and am now up to 100 steps a day.

I am hoping that this will eventually improve the development of collateral blood supply to my lower limbs and to improve my muscle development.

Daughter

Today is daughter's 21st (and a few) birthday.

I wish her many happy returns...

... and that she enjoys her lunch today with M

Happy Birthday, dear Daughter

with love from Mum

The Return of Physiotherapy

(it sounds like the sequel to a horror movie).

After an absence of 2 weeks, I found everything a bit of a struggle, but in the end managed to do everything. Quite a few faces missing this week.

Afterwards I stopped off on my way home to visit the big garden centre where I had a most welcome glass of chilled lemon refresher (with a cheese scone and butter, of course).

Went on to buy two bigger pots for the windowsill parsley as it has obviously rooted well - in fact the roots are out of the bottom of the pot. Chose a dark brown one this time for a change.

I then went on to the food bit and picked up 1 garlic (I was horrified last week to find I was completely out), 2 good sized onions - again they were now finished as I used up the last two in the spinach soup last week. Along with that I bought some new potatoes a broccoli head and then went on to the butcher shop where I bought some lambs' liver (which I haven't eaten in ages), a sirloin steak and 3 lamb and mint sausages.

Okay, confession time - I also bought a bottle of Australian wine.

Back home quite exhausted, but feeling good.

I think another Dick Francis is called for!

Happy Monday

Yesterday was bridge once more. There were only two tables playing so we divided into 2 teams, playing 10 boards, then moving to play the next 10 boards against the other half of the opposition.

We won!

I was playing with the same man I played with last week, and I felt more comfortable in that we were getting to know each other's style and how to interpret each other's bids. (Some people are rasher and some are timid; I am trying to move on from timidity to confidence).

I was back too late for tea with the scrabble crowd, so returned home and prepared the evening meal - cauliflower cheese - perfectly straightforward an not worthy of a post on my recipe blog.

This morning dawned with more low cloud, but at least no rain, so off to Church for Pentecost. Our minister is currently preaching a series of sermons on St Paul's letters, but for today turned to The Acts of the Apostles, and the speed with which the good news of the Christian faith spread far and wide from Jerusalem around the Mediterranean countries and even to the heart of the Roman Empire, Rome.

Our prayers this morning were particularly for the poor people in Burma and in a different vein, for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland which starts next week.

I was lucky this morning to get a disabled parking bay - I left home at 10.15 to try to make sure of that.

After a quick lunch, my mind was tortured by the thought of two strips of plants unplanted.

So, I took my stick and a trusty polythene bag and ventured forth.

Luckily the plants are small and the soil is very easy to work just now after all the rain we have had, so although bending over is not easy (and is really not desirable) I managed to get all the plants in.

A great feeling of achievement!

And now the sun has come out.

Tiredness

After the plant sales, the planting and the general tidying up and catching up with my blog favourites, I prepared the potatoes for my evening meal and covered them with water.

I then poured myself a glass of Noilly Prat and sat down with a sigh of relief.

Then I realised that, if I sat there for another moment, I would fall asleep.

Then I decided I did not fancy the Noilly and poured it back into the bottle (this is serious stuff, you know)!

Then I gave in and went to bed at 6.30 pm.......

....... and slept the clock round.

I feel refreshed now after my shower, so I think that normal service has been resumed.

Plants

This morning I set off early to reach daughter's house by 9.30 am. The reason was that we were going to 2 plant sales.

It is not safe to take me near one of these.....

At the first one I bought 2 pots of parsley to bring on in the kitchen. I think I have said before that otherwise the neighbourhood peacock feasts on them. I also bought 4 strips of begonia to fill up spaces in the border and 2 good sized busy lizzies. At the second one I was not tempted by the plants, but they had a second hand book sale, 5 for £1, so of course I bought 5:-2 Dick Francis ones, a David Baddiel, an omnibus Douglas Adams and a Harlan Coben. At the second one we had tea and a cake and I have bought a fruit cake for Monday afternoon's "Scrabble tea".

Back home again I took my bedside stool out to the garden (as I know I can get up from it.) I planted the first 2 strips of begonias, but then found I could not get up again.

After quite a struggle, I did manage it. So at that point I called a halt on planting.

The start of the day was misty, then the sun burnt it off and it was a beautiful hot day.

And now it is raining.

and I am rather stiff and sore.....

Remembering

My brother sent me a lovely card today with a beautiful, thoughtful message inside on the occasion of what would have been our father's 100th birthday on Sunday.

I shall be remembering my father especially in my prayers on Sunday.

My brother is always such a thoughtful, caring man.

The Good News.......

.....and The Bad News.

I heard today from the factors that the insurance company is prepared to meet the claim for a new hob to replace the damaged one.

However, they are imposing an excess of £250.

Ouch!

However, I have no option but to bite the bullet on this one.

On a brighter note, when The Best Sister In The World came yesterday, I happened to show her the new watch I had bought to replace my clapped out one. I don't like to wear my good watch all the time as it would get scratched and probably get water in.

As I pulled up my sleeve to show her, she pulled up her sleeve too....

... to show an identical watch!

We had both chosen the man's version of the original black Swatch watch. It is so good, because the figures are clear enough to see the time, and there is a 'magnifier' over the day/date function so that elderly eyes can read them.

"Sisters, Sisters, never were there such devoted sisters" as the song had it.

My Family.....

.....(but no other animals this time.)

First of all daughter rang me to ask if I could go over today, but sadly I couldn't because I had ordered a supermarket delivery. I had thought that she was working a full day today, but turns out I had misconstrued something she had written, and she was working only a half day. I was rather keen to arrange a visit before next Wednesday as she has a birthday then. We finally arranged for me to go over there for 9.30 am on Saturday. So, I shall have to set the alarm.....

Then supermarket delivery arrived and I got everything unpacked and put away.

Then I spotted a text message from The Best Sister In The World asking if she could call in on her way home from the hairdresser. So I managed that date, and we had a good chat over tea and biccies. A bottle of Noilly Prat from the only supermarket that seems to stock it was very much appreciated.

It is another beautiful, sunny day.

I've Been A Very Naughty Girl!

Today I was sitting at my jigsaw and looking out into the small patch of land that I call a "garden" . Huh, it's not even big enough to call a "patio".

However, many of last year's pots were looking rather sad, with dead old growth not cut back.

And it was such a lovely day........

So, even although I can't really manage to do this, I found a pair of secateurs, a rubbish bag and my stick and ventured forth.

I should also have done a bit of weeding round the pot plants (moss and the usual suspects),but I really don't manage bending down very well, so I left that for another day.

Now all my pots have the dead stalks removed and the bay (which is really thriving) is trimmed back.

The whole place looks so much better, and as far as I can see I have suffered only a couple of scratches.

A great feeling of satisfaction.

That Famous Organic Veg. Box

Was a little worried this morning when 11 o'clock arrived and no vegetable man. Phoned the farm to discover that my usual delivery man had hurt his back so someone else was doing his round (I think, on top of his own) so he would be late but was definitely coming. As I said yesterday, my fridge was almost empty (apart from some cheddar and Gran Pudano cheeses, mayonnaise, dark chocolate, Dijon mustard, and of course sherry, white wine and a couple of nice ales)*

Yup, that's an empty fridge!

Today's delivery consisted of: potatoes, carrots, onions plus a cauliflower, a bag of spinach, 4 leeks (small ones now) and a large bag of white sprouting broccoli; the fruit was 3 apples, 2 oranges, 1 banana and 1 kiwi fruit.

and, of course, half a dozen eggs.

I often make soup with spinach, but this time I think I shall simply serve as a vegetable as it is so good when fresh. This means washing it, then shaking it dry. After that you put it in a pan and let it wilt down without adding any more water. When wilted, toss in some butter and serve. A large bag of spinach should serve four.

The last loaf of bread that I made did not rise enough and is a bit hard and over-baked, so I shall make French toast with it tomorrow, now that I have some eggs.

* every picture tells a story....

Monday, and Bridge again

A really good afternoon at the Bridge Club, playing with the most senior member (not in age!). I keep learning new aspects of bidding and playing hands, but sometimes it feels as though I learn, say, 8 new things and then promptly forget six of them. However slowly but surely I am improving.

Back for a cup of tea once again with the Scrabble "girls".

When I checked my credit card transactions, what the firm who sold me the stepper has done is to issue the second stepper and charge for it, then refund that sum onto my credit card. There is a £5 differential between the one I originally ordered and the one I have now, so I am out of pocket in the princely sum of £5 - a very fair treatment, when the fault was not really the seller's, but my error in selecting the wrong stepper (as I did not appreciate the difference).

A beautiful hot (20 Celcius day); of course I did not realise that until I left home - wearing my jumper...

Off to have a second macaroni cheese with carrots and a little potato.

That is my salad (or vegetable) drawer emptied and cleaned ready for tomorrow.

A Busy Sunday

Up and off to Church. As I left home I was greeted by the rather strange sight of one half of the car park wet and the other side completely dry.

Discovered I must be a very lucky person as So many birds had dropped little gifts on my car.

Found the walk into the Church a bit difficult and that I was inclined towards losing my balance - I think that is my punishment for doing too much a couple of days ago.

Our minister is back from a week's holiday in Rome, so decided to use readings from St Paul's letters to the Romans.

This afternoon I have done my dark wash and got a couple of jumpers washed too.

A lot of walking and standing, so I am making comfort food for tonight (and enough left over for three more meals - (see my recipe blog if you are interested in making Macaroni Cheese).

You Remember That Stepper (Part 3)....

Well, it duly arrived today (well done TNT, 24 hour delivery and on a Saturday too). All unpacked and put together.

I am still somewhat (read VERY) sore from the furniture moving antics, so, after a quick trial to see that it worked - which it does - I am leaving the exercises till tomorrow.

Received an email this morning which I almost deleted. I have been receiving quite a number of spam emails from various (and often spurious) companies, many of which try to look as though they are from ASDA, Tesco and the like, but on closer inspection are not from them at all.

Glad I didn't this time as it turned to be an Amazon gift voucher from younger son and daughter in law.

So I logged on to Amazon and ordered 3 super books from my wish list - all for the net price of £2.45! Smashing.....

You Remember That Stepper (part 2)

...

umm...

.... not quite sure how to put this...

When we oiled the 'fan belt' and moved the 'feet' by hand, it turned out that the feet didn't go up and down...

but up - to the side and down - to the side

thus giving a very good hip swinging exercise.

However, when you reach my age and have a balance problem, this is not a good idea.

So, this morning I phoned the company and they are sending another one which does just go up and down, and, what's more, taking this one back.

The correct one should be here tomorrow.

After all yesterday's hard work I felt like an easy meal, so I made some mince (see my recipe blog)

You Remember That Stepper...

.... we were talking about yesterday?

Okay.

This morning I worked out that the only place to put it was behind the door into the living room. So all I had to do was to remove a lamp, and put the stepper in its place.

The lamp was plugged in to an adaptor which was behind the middle of three low sideboard units.

No problem.

Except that it would not come out.

So, I removed all the stuff from the top of the units and managed to move one of the side ones out from the wall.

But I could not move the middle unit - and it held my best crystal (well that was a small portion of the contents), glasses and some full bottles.

So I emptied that cupboard, and still could not move it.

So I emptied the third cupboard and moved it, then was able to get the adaptor out from behind the middle unit.

Then I moved the cupboards back.

Then I refilled them.

Collapse of stout party.

Then

I found a spare roll of carpet in the hall cupboard beside the hot water tank and brought it through to the living room.

Collapse of stout party....

Later, my two wonderful cleaners arrived and cut a piece of carpet to suit and then oiled the stepper, so it is now ready to use after I have read the instructions...........

One of my cleaners has the light away - I have rarely used it since I moved here and there is plenty lighting without it.