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.