Another day

Good morning all, at last, the temperature is just right warm, sunny and with a gentle breeze.  The one really hot day was a bit miserable but now it is perfect.  Last night saw the temperature drop down to 15ºC which was comfortable to sleep in without the aid of a fan.  Both boys were out for the whole day yesterday so I finished off the platter of fishy things.  Denzil arrived home knackered having delivered 1.5 tons of shopping so he made himself a ham sandwich and went straight to his bed.  James had been to a wedding reception so he was well and truly stuffed but also knackered so he too went straight to bed.  I had had a nice day pottering in the bathroom it is nice to have the chance to wander about in the altogether. The double apricot coloured lilies have started to open and as you can see the one still in bud is just green so I was not so hopeful that they would come true but the hot weather got them going.  The tomatoes are a bit ...

Good morning all.  It was a hot one yesterday, I managed to keep the house at 25 until about 6pm when I thought it was safe to open the windows I was wrong it shot up to 28 in moments.  My birthday food was lovely no work involved.  There was enough for both lunch and supper the fishmonger organised the platter and what you can’t see is the packet of smoked salmon tucked under the dressed crabs.  That is going to be breakfast with some scrambled eggs and an avocado. I didn’t do much as it was too hot.  Marjorie must be laughing as she has really had some heat.  Today is supposed to be cooler and there is a gentle breeze this morning. I got my computer fixed by the Apple support team and as I expected it required one drag and drop and all was cured.  Now all the technology is linked up so my contacts are now on my phone where they are more useful. I knew it would be something simple but could I do it - no way. Well it’s time for some coffee and...

Good morning all.  Well the widows are shut, the blinds are drawn and the fans are whirring.  I am going to they to stay cool. Marjorie you have my sympathy not only with the heat but also the joys of have work done or should that be not done.  My friend Shiona is having similar problems with her gas supply.  She has a magic mower which spends its time mowing her garden but gas people managed to break the cables in two places.  After 30 years they decided her gas tank was in the wrong place so she is now having a fight with them. I still can’t get my phone and iPad to speak to the main computer and I know it will be some trifling detail I have missed. I really need a 13 year old who would no doubt fix it in seconds and I will feel extremely stupid. In desperation I  will phone apple support and hope they can solve the problem.  The good news is I have my nails booked in for Wednesday afternoon.  The other good news is that I did the trick to...

Good morning all.  What crazy weather we are having this morning it is down to 14ºC and tomorrow we are due for 30ºC but only for one day as the heat passes over us.  The wind is blowing quite strongly from the west which is not where the heat is so I don't understand what is occurring.  Anyway, I am not complaining I like it cool it is so much easier to get warm than it is to get cold.   Keith the gardener came and did some good stuff in the garden I think he likes coming to me as he has a variety of things to do not just cutting the grass.  He planted out a pot of chives which were pot bound and put a large pot of basil into a container on the patio.  The tomatoes now have 6-foot canes and are tethered to the fence so the wind won't knock them down.  One of the Phyllostachys nigra [black bamboo] has gone mad and he took out the new 15-foot canes.  If there is one thing I have in abundance it is bamboo canes.  Anyway, the garden is...

Good morning all, fortunately, we are still in the cool weather area and have quite a breeze blowing from the west.  I believe we are due to get the killing heat at some point but as yet it is quite pleasant. So what to do with three tablespoons of broad beans?  In the end, I added them to the matchsticks of kohlrabi and poured over a strong cheese sauce then gratinated the top and blasted under the grill, that way there was enough for the three of us. We are having a real problem with Dan at the moment we think there must be a bitch in season somewhere close as he has suddenly decided that Tubby is a girl and in need of attention!!! so we are having to keep them apart as much as possible so he is miserable and crying.  This is the first time he has ever shown any sign that he is an intact male and if he goes on like this he will not be intact for very long.  I don't like to say it but it would help if Tubby were less forgiving and bit him so he got the message. ...

Good morning all. First, let's talk weather yesterday was 26 degrees and humid as hell this morning it is 16 degrees chilly and overcast it is impossible to know what to wear these days one day you need a coat the next a bikini or maybe a raincoat the only good thing is that the plants seem to be loving it and everything is flourishing. Now for a slice of humble pie, I saw the nurse at the surgery yesterday and she was lovely and I have now been vaccinated against shingles.  Apparently, it is a live vaccine so it can make you feel a bit rough while your immune system does its stuff. Anyway, I really don't want shingles it is horrible. After the surgery, we went on to Macnades and had a lovely brunch.  I had a trio of bruschette served on a salad of rocket and yellow plum tomatoes.  The three flavours were pork rillettes, tomato salad and cream cheese and serrano ham all washed down with a large cappuccino coffee.  I restocked the coffee supplies and also bou...

Good morning all, what a strange weather day we had yesterday it seemed to be a bit of everything. Hot muggy air with short sharp blasts of cool air following showers but no sun at all and last night we had thunder and torrential rain.  So all that was missing was fog and snow!  Well, at least nothing needs watering. We waded through the salad with fridge bits and bobs. No one felt much like eating or cooking. I had a long chat with Shiona who is not having the best of times at the moment but she is off to Scotland for the whole of July which will give her a break.  She has a very nice large motor home which means she can come and go as she pleases now she no longer owns a house in Scotland. Today I have an appointment with the nurse for my annual COPD checkup.  I don’t think it really serves any purpose other than to keep the books straight but that is me being a cynical nurse.  Denzil is taking me then we are going to Macnades for some retail ther...

Good morning all sorry to be so late but I have been having a fight with the computer it will not do what it is told.  All I have tried to do is to transfer my contacts list from the main computer to my new phone and do you think it will cooperate no it will not I have tried doing it via Bluetooth airdrop and even email but none of it seems to be working and I am now at the throwing a brick stage.  Just to add insult to injury somehow I have managed to duplicate all the contacts so I will have to go through laboriously and delete them one at a time, what a pain.  I love computers until they go wrong or refuse to do what they are told then I hate them. James bottled out of his pasta lesson yesterday and we had just dry pasta instead and as we dont want it two days running it has been put on the back burner for some other time. The weather here is strange it is very dull and overcast but quite warm and muggy.  It feels as though it wants to rain but I don't th...

Good morning all yesterday was a lovely day but this morning it is dull and overcast and quite chilly so the prospects don't look good. I must say that yesterday's pizza was much nicer than I expected the crust was good and thin and crispy and the toppings traditional perhaps it is not pizza I don't like just commercial pizza.  As for Dominos, even the dogs are not keen on that stuff. Today we are going to have a lesson in pasta making and as I now have all the machinery to fit my KitchenAid it is a real doddle to roll the pastry out and cut it.  I have visions of my grandmother doing it by hand with huge sheets of pasta which were then rolled up like cigars and finely sliced.  The pastry for apfelstrudel, thin enough to read a newspaper through, was done on a white table cloth so it was easy to roll up once all the filling was added.  I always thought it was such a shame that my grandmother, who was such a fabulous cook,  absolutely hated it.  Bei...

Good morning all yesterday morning started off all lovely and summery but it soon clouded over and was a rather dull day in the end.  This morning too is all sun and summer looking so let's hope it lasts a bit longer. The Korean spare ribs were a great success and for supper, I made a salmon tartare with lots of lime juice.  It was a sort of layered thing with a tartare of cucumber and avocado with the salmon on top.  I served it with a nice tomato salad which had a mozzarella torn and added along with a nice handful of basil.  It was a bit on the light side and would make a very nice starter, fortunately, there were ribs left from lunch so they very quickly got demolished.  I really should have made a potato salad to give it a bit more substance. We seem to be suffering from lots of flies at the moment and we couldn't believe our eyes when we saw a swarm of hoverflies heading for the house so we very quickly shut all the windows on the back of the hous...

Good morning all.  Without wishing to provoke the weather gods I think summer might be here.  Blue cloudless sky gentle cool breeze and brilliant sunshine.  I had a real laugh yesterday I put some corn cobs for the birds to eat.  The hens used to go mad for them so they were not completely stripped.  Well the pigeons decided to remove the kernels and throw to one side then they realised they were throwing away what they were meant to eat.  Once they got the hang of it they were very happy but it was a steep learning curve for them. James meatballs were fine and there is enough mixture left to make either another batch or a small meatloaf.  On the menu today we have some pork spareribs in a Korean marinade which just need a couple of hours at 160 then a blast under the grill.  The marinade is one Tak bought me which saved a lot of time mixing all the ingredients.  However as I don’t read Korean I had to research a recipe which included the m...

Good morning all - yesterday was a total washout with rain on and off all day and most of the night.  At the moment the sun is shining and we have lovely blue skies and it is looking like a glorious day.  Fingers crossed it stays that way which according to the forecast it will but I am always a little sceptical as the weather can change in minutes.  I know it rained for most of the night as next doors dogs woke me at midnight and it was gone 4am before I could get back to sleep, then the phone rang and woke me again at which point I gave up and headed for the coffee.  Having moaned about how dreadful I felt it is necessary to say that I feel much better if not 100%. We had an interesting supper last night James made his first chicken curry and we then ordered in some mushroom rice, Bombay potatoes and sag paneer to accompany it which worked really well.  He is quite funny with his cookery and is very critical of the results. The curry needed to be reduced ...

Good morning all.  Well summer is over it’s pouring with rain as it has been most of the night.  Yesterday I had some minced lamb which I made into sort of meatball mix but instead of using some bread crumbs I used couscous which worked really well and we had a burger each for lunch and the remainder was cooked as meatballs in a tomato sauce and served with rice for supper.  I flavoured gently with garlic and lemon zest.  Today I have loads of salad to use up but it is really a day for stew and dumplings as the temperature is right down.  So perhaps some hot soup as well.  It is difficult to get things right with the weather so changeable. Dennie did her stuff and so the house looks a bit better and the laundry is up to date so not much to do.  The beds have all been done so that is one major wash done and dried outside. I don’t know if you have been watching the war on plastic but it is terrifying.  There was much discussion about wet wipes e...

Good morning all.  So sunshine, warmth and no rain was yesterday the first summer day?  I had a little potter in the garden.  Everything has gone mad with all the rain. Here are a few snaps Rosa rugosa Korean Fir Salvia Officinalis Rosa bonica Rosa Iceberg June is definitely the month of the roses and they are doing splendidly at present no signs of black spot or aphids.  None of them got pruned but they don't seem to mind. James stroganoff was lovely and I made a Korean cucumber salad which we had with tinned sardines for supper.  There is quite a bit left over so I think it will go fine with some lamb burgers which I have planned for lunch today. The wonderful Dennie is due this morning so I need to do a bit of a tidy round before she arrives.  I know it is a real luxury to have a cleaner even if it is three hours a fortnight but it does force me to tidy up as she can't clean if she can't see the surface for the m...

Good morning all its another sort of mixed day with the sun coming and going but at the moment it is dry so no complaints. James has a project today he is going to make beef stroganoff which is one of his favourite dishes but one he has never made before and as we have all the ingredients it seems like a good idea.  I hulled tons of strawberries yesterday and they did us for supper there is nothing quite like a blow out on some gorgeous thing that is in season.  I have eaten a huge plate of asparagus or runner beans in the past just because they are at their best. I remember my mother coming home from Ireland with kilos of langoustines and we sat and ate them until we could eat no more. As I am amongst friends here I took a photo of the bracelets I am giving the girls for their 21st so I thought you might like to see them. As it happens when it comes to jewellery I loath bracelets as they drive me mad I don't even like long sleeves and always push them above m...

Good morning all.  We got away with a largely sunny day and only some drizzle in the evening-and rain overnight.I put a 300g block of suet and seeds out for the birds.  2 pigeons and a magpie demolished approximately 200g what pigs.  I bet they will have belly ache tonight! Still it was entertaining watching them squabbling over what was ample for all.  By sunrise they demolished the remainder. Elaine popped in as she had found some little boxes which I was looking for her twins 21st I am giving them each a bracelet from my jewellery collection as it seems a sensible solution as I don’t have grand daughters or daughters to leave them to and second hand jewellery doesn’t hold its price.  She also brought me a large punnet of strawberries from her allotment and as luck would have it I have some double cream in the fridge.  When I prepare strawberries I usually squeeze over the juice of half a lemon and sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar the leave them at room tem...

Good morning all, it’s a beautiful sunny morning but I believe it is not to last as the wind direction has changed and the wet weather from the west is on its way. This is day four of the antibiotics and I have less earache but the nausea is still a nuisance.  I find I am sleeping a lot which is no bad thing and the boys are keeping me fed and watered. I did some online shopping for them and discovered you can pay for a delivery season ticket which cuts the cost dramatically.  It’s about the only useful thing I can do at present.  James did a roast belly of pork with carrots peas and jerseys which he got just right with a few instructions on timing and temperature.  Denzil did a dessert of banana custard a real blast from the past.  It was one of my Dads favourites along with red jelly floating in double cream.  Actually I think the jelly was just an excuse to eat gallons of cream. This reminds me of a meal I had in Alsace which was pineapple in Kirsch...

Good morning all,  the weather is a bit hit and miss at the moment we have sun but there are some nasty looking clouds overhead. The gardeners came yesterday and tidied up the exuberant clematis and the bay trees.  They also tied in a couple of climbing roses which were flapping in the breeze. They also organised support for the tomato plants.  So all in all a great job. I am keeping my head down and trying to do all the right things, drink plenty, eat good nutritious stuff no junk, rest and sleep as much as I can.  My bedroom door is open so copious fresh air. And for those who know me well smoking cut to a minimum. The rest is up to the antibiotics.  Incidentally I am also making sure my gut flora are well fed with kimchi turmeric and ginger which I hope will mitigate the side effects of the medication. Being confined to barracks is dismal but I get to watch the birds as my flat kitchen roof is one very large bird table.  I also have some crochet to...

Good morning all.  What a wonderful experience I had yesterday I was seen by my old GP who knew who I was and about the boys etc.  He confirmed that both my ears are infected, sorted out the chaos that is my prescription and wrote me up for shed loads of antibiotics.  He was aghast that I had had to wait so long.  Apparently he only does one day a week at the surgery but I left him in no doubt how delighted I was that he was back. Needless to say I still feel pretty crappy but a diagnosis and treatment lifts the spirits.  At least I can now see an end in sight.  I am fanatical about taking antibiotics on time as I know that keeping the blood levels up is very important if they are to work well.  So my alarm was set for 2am as that was the time for the next dose.  Fortunately I drifted back off to sleep in no time. It has been pouring down this morning but has now stopped and the sun is shining.  The gardeners are due later on so let’s hop...

Rip roaring infection in both ears - lots of antibiotics.  It can only get better from here.

Good morning all.  Well, today is the day I finally get to see the doctor so hopefully, by tomorrows saga you will have a bit more information and so will I. After the deluge on Monday, yesterday was a reasonable day with plenty of sunshine but it was still pretty cold for this time of year.  I took a photo of the clematis which has gone mad and I think you will agree it really needs a cut back before it takes over the garden. After a pretty dry winter, the garden has gone bananas with all the rain and the clematis is catching the washing line and making itself a nuisance.  Today it is dull and overcast and according to the forecast we are due more rain.  I hope that it isn't raining when the gardeners are due on Thursday and they can have some fun with their hedge cutter sorting out the waterfall on the fence. In my vegetable box, I had a load of broad beans so I have the happy job of shelling them then once cooked I like to take their grey jackets off ...

Good morning all well the sun is shining and you wouldn't know that yesterday we had torrential rain for most of the day.  I did ease off around tea time only to start again with added force just as Denzil set out to work. Some local areas flooded and there were lots of pictures on Facebook showing just how bad it was.  We are lucky we are at the top of a hill so flooding is not a problem for us. I'm afraid I just hunkered down and watched the whole of Chernobyl.  We don't have Sky tv but Denzil managed to download it from the internet.  It was certainly well worth watching and all the more interesting as I remember the actual incident and what we were told.  I don't suppose this will come as a shock to you but governments lie to the people and not just the Russians.  I will say no more in case you get a chance to watch it.   The ham and lentils made a nice supper but my mind is a complete blank this morning with regard to food I am too nause...

Good morning all we had a nice start to the day yesterday then it went downhill and rained most of the afternoon and it is still raining now.  It is not heavy but constant which is just what the garden needs so no complaints from me. Talking about the garden it used to be very colourful but these days it is 50 shades of green but I don't mind that and when the odd plant comes into bloom it is rather exciting.  At the moment the black elder is in full bloom and looking spectacular but the winter clematis has gone mad and looks like Niagra falls as it tumbles over the fence. the gardeners are due on Thursday so they can have some fun with their hedge trimmer and cut it will back. The ham hock turned out beautifully and the stock is not too salty so today I will use it to cook some lentils.  I quite like it when one meal leads to another as it saves having to think about what to have next. I have purchased some new cleaning stuff which is supposed to shift every kin...

Good morning all.  Much nicer this morning with lovely sunshine and no real wind.  Yesterday started badly but cheered up by lunchtime.  I am pleased to report that the turnips worked out well and hidden in the melange of other vegetables no one really noticed.  I am glad I am not the only one who is not too keen on turnips. My box next week will have kohlrabi and I would like to try it in cheese sauce as advised by Annabeth.  It is quite handy that they send me an email with the contents of the next box so I can make some plans and I can also add things I think I might need.  I have added strawberries and cream which I really need!!! I then decided to watch trouping the colour which is quite a spectacle.  The weather was kind to them so no fainting soldiers and the horses were well behaved.  The queen did look very lonely in the carriage by herself we are so used to seeing her with Philip at her side.  He will be 98 on Monday and it cro...

Good morning all.  Well, it's flaming June so of course, it is pouring with rain.  I have just been watching a blackbird having a lovely bath in my guttering.  Yesterday was a washout and today looks much the same.  It strikes me as a day for doing some crochet and not much else.  The rain must be a pain for those who have to go out and about but as I am confined to barracks it doesn't matter much to me and the garden is loving it. In my vegetable box last week I had some turnips which I don't really like and I was unsure what to do with them so I have cut them into batons and cooked them with butter and stock along with some carrots and some baby spinach which I hope will make them edible.  I like swede but not turnips so we will see if this changes my mind.  Ideally, I think some pork chops would make a good accompaniment but I don't have any so I might have to send a minion on a shopping expedition.  Failing that they will have to go in th...

Good morning all.  We have already had a shower and are destined for more rain, never mind the garden is happy. I watched a really interesting horizon programme about how our minds work and just how much is on autopilot for want of a better phrase.  We seem to be riddled with cognitive biases that we are helpless to overcome.  I think my dislike of America is one such item and I can find endless justifications for my opinion.  However knowing you are deeply flawed doesn’t help. I was kind of off my food yesterday but at 11.30pm I decided I was hungry so I made myself somthing I haven’t had in years. I had a sardine (tinned) and cucumber sandwich.  I had actually bought a tin of sardines for the dogs.  They don’t know so please don’t tell them I have eaten their treat.  Anyway it hit the spot and I soon fell asleep. Now don’t laugh but I got a letter from the doctors yesterday asking me to make a half hour appointment with the nurse so she can che...

Good morning all I am sitting at the big computer with my coffee and trying not to glance down at the keyboard as that makes me seasick.  I am not the most proficient typist in the world so you may get a few typos.  I did pop out to the garden and took a photo of my rose "Gertrude Jekyll"  which is looking good. Given that it has had no attention whatsoever and just been left to do its own thing it seems to be doing fine.  The good dousing of rain certainly helped so everything is now looking perky instead of limp. My groceries turned up late so I phoned customer services and got myself a £5 voucher off my next order which is fine by me.  I was a bit put out as I had ordered lunch with the shopping and I was hungry.  The meat arrived a bit later so I have left it in its box with the freezer bags and as it is all vacuum packed I will deal with this morning.  I seem to be at my best in the morning and gradually decline through the day.  I ...

Good morning all, health check no better no worse. We had a day of rain yesterday which the garden really needed.  Poor Denzil had watered all my pots for me so he was not best pleased.  I spent most of the day lying flat which seems the only comfortable position.  I did however do my shopping on line and today I am expecting groceries from Ocado and meat from Heals farm.  Dennie did her stuff so the house is clean.  I am just pottering about trying not to move my head quickly.  I am writing this on my iPad as looking up to the screen on the computer makes me dizzy and nauseated.  One bit of good news James took the car for its MOT which I’m glad to say it passed. So at least that’s a year of peace.  The insurance has gone through the roof and I think the Road fund licence will make me cough but once it’s done I can relax. Lunch today will be gazpacho ready made so I will just make some garnish and supper will be steak if the orders arrive on ...

Morning all just a quick one today I am going back to bed as I am not so good,  roll on the 12th.  I managed to drag myself around yesterday but this morning I am handing over to the boys and the wonderful Dennie.  I hope a days rest might help.  Oh by the way I made an interesting Korean cucumber salad yesterday.  Sliced cucumber and half an onion then dressed with soy sauce sesame oil and seeds chilli flakes and crushed garlic and a tsp of honey.  Very nice and very different. Have a great day the weather looks ok.

Good morning all it is a strange morning sort of not quite sunny but also not quite dull with a gentle breeze blowing which makes it feel nice and comfortable.   James knuckled under and did lots of chores and made a nice shepherds pie which will be for lunch today as we had some duck legs for supper last night as we couldn't face lamb again.  I went to town on my bed and not only changed the sheets but move up to my summer quilt.  I have a nice duvet for winter then for spring and autumn I have a sleeping bag which is just the right weight then in the summer it is just a thin quilt and if it gets really hot I use just a duvet cover.  I think I have all eventualities covered. We had an interesting visitor to the garden yesterday in the form of a Jay which I have seldom seen in the gardens.  It sat in the fig tree but do you think it would sit still for a photo not on your life any way I did the best I could and it just turned its back on me as the ...

Good morning all it looks like another stunning day with lots of sun but a lovely cool breeze blowing which makes it perfect. Yesterday’s roast lamb went down well but James slept the whole day so I cooked it.  He is back in the land of the living today and working furiously to make up for his absence yesterday.  For lunch we are having some of the lamb sliced finely then dressed with finely sliced onions, capers and glug of olive oil.  The remainder is going into a shepherds pie with a sliced potato top instead of mash. I also cooked some duck legs in the pressure cooker and today I think I will freeze them so that they are ready to put in a hot oven when needed.  I cook them straight from frozen as the legs tend to be a bit tougher. Then a swift blast in a hot oven and they are delicious. Denzil has a long day but will be home for supper so that will be the major meal.  The washing machine is doing it’s thing and I am changing beds.  When the weathe...

Good morning all we had a miserable dull start to yesterday and it didn't brighten up until the early evening when the sun finally broke through.  This morning however it is gloriously sunny and we are looking at a gorgeous day.  At the moment the temperature is exactly how I like it not too hot just lovely and warm. I shot outside and took a quick snap of the tomato plants which are now in pots and I hope will survive as they are in my line of sight so I shouldn't forget to water them.  I will have to organise some canes for them as they grow but that is easy as I have loads of bamboo growing and can cut a piece anytime I want. I have not heard a word from T&M with regard to the "compost" they sent me but I am hopeful of a refund.  Fortunately, I had all the packing information and assorted numbers so they should be able to trace the item and know if it had spent too long in the post. James decided to make us a main course prawn cocktail and it end...