Another day

Good morning all and still the sun shines! but I do believe that we are in for some rain soon which is just as well as the garden is desperate.  June is normally pretty wet and everyone moans about "whatever happened to flaming June"  Then, of course, it pours for Wimbledon which I guess will not be happening this year.  Anyway, I for one will be very happy to see some rain.     Hydrangea petiolaris in full bloom pollen on the bins As you can see there is quite a coating of pollen on the bins and I'm sure with the breeze there is tons of it in the air.  I was in the kitchen for less than five minutes when I started sneezing.  Yesterday I did a little weeding in the greenhouse but it was way too hot so I soon abandoned that and after a bit of housework I settled down to some knitting actually I spent the vast majority of the day upstairs where my sneezing is non-existent.  Hopefully, after some rain, the pollen in the air will diminish and this wil...

Good morning all well another wall to wall day of sun I think.  I was interested to read that I am not alone in the sneezing and spluttering department.  As we have a gentle breeze I think that it is carrying the pollen far and wide.  Over the garage, I have a hydrangea petiolaris which is in full bloom and has covered my brown wheelie bins in a thick layer of pollen so there must be tons of it in the air.  Under the kitchen window, I have thyme in full bloom and by the back door the sage is going crazy so I am kind of surrounded by pollinating plants. I did the peppers in the halogen oven halved and cored and that seemed to work well - the skinning of peppers is just one of those jobs isn't it.  Anyway, they went down well with the steaks we had for supper.  Denzil worked some overtime yesterday and so we abandoned lunch and went straight for an early supper. The tomatoes in the greenhouse are doing well but one of them had the top knocked over and snapped...

Good morning all, I have been up since dawn which is at about 4 am.  I wandered down stairs for coffee only to start sneezing like crazy so back up stairs a went.  I have never suffered like this with pollen but James seems to be in the same boat.  The antihistamine don’t seem to be effective. Yesterday’s Nicoise was jolly tasty it should have had olives but Denzil doesn’t like them so I left them off I then discovered he also doesn’t like anchovies either.  So tomorrow he is out for lunch and James an I are going to have pasta puttanesca which has both as well as some chilli.   Today we have steak which arrived late yesterday afternoon the rest of the meat has been put in the freezer.  I must say while the food I have ordered is fine I do miss actually selecting it for myself.   Today I think I need to go and tie in the tomato plants which are growing well I can also check that the watering system is working OK.   It looks like another perfect da...

Good morning all well it is yet another gorgeous day with lots of sunshine and a cool breeze which just perfect. I'm a bit late today as I got stuck the kitchen chores early as I want things cold for lunch and it is much easier to warm things up than to get them cool.  The mullet has been cooked, hard-boiled eggs are cooling and the potatoes are still boiling.  Once they are done it is basically an assembly job - while I am at it I have some peppers which need skinning a job I detest doing.  I normally burn the skins over the flame of the gas hob then put them into a polybag and leave them to cool before skinning them under a running tap but today I am going to try doing the same process using the grill and see if it is any easier.  You have probably noticed that my life is one big experiment who knows I may eventually get things right!!!! By the way, it is really quite difficult to write this blog as so little is happening in my life one day just runs into the next ...

Good morning all the sage is going mad and is covered in flowers which the bees love.  There is little to say as life is very mundane at the moment.  It is just various jobs and assorted meals.  Yesterday I made a bucket full of bolognese sauce and I was hoping to put it into containers and into the freezer today but sadly it was too wet so I have had to boil it down a bit which of course means it's hot and so I can freeze it just yet.  Anyway, the one thing I have in abundance is time!!!  I have been out and watered the plants on the patio quickly before the sun hits that area and much to my surprise I ordered some parsley seeds yesterday morning and they arrived in the afternoon - amazing.  Anyway, they will be planted today into one of the spare troughs the other will have coriander.    Lunch today will be asparagus and duck eggs and then for supper, I am going to make a Greek sort of lasagne which is called Pastitsio.  Tomorrow I fancy sa...

Good morning all another sunny day however it was cold enough in the night to allow the heating to come on this morning.  I am afraid I leave it with the thermostat at a comfortable background temperature so it only comes on when it drops below that.   Yesterday was cleaning day and I spent some time in the kitchen cleaning the place from top to toe and hoovering through the downstairs and washing all the floors by the time I had done that I was poleaxed.  Lunch was really easy I opened a frozen packet of New Zealand mussels and topped them with garlic parsley and breadcrumbs and then drizzled with olive oil and popped them under the grill.  Very tasty but not very filling so supper was a pasta bake which had a bit more substance to it.  For lunch today I have a couple of baguettes which are slightly stale so I think I can revitalise them by running them under the tap and popping into a hot oven.  Then I have defrosted a piece of skirt steak and I have...

Good morning all it is lovely and sunny this morning but the air is cool which is nice.  I am sneezing like mad but I have taken an antihistamine though I don't think it has taken effect yet.  There is definitely something which sets both James and I off neither one of us sneezes upstairs but as soon as we come downstairs it starts. I had a very interesting phone call in the morning Margaret rang to ask to borrow my gun so she could shoot Domenic Cummings.  I offered to hold him for her.  We both agreed he has no integrity and should resign.  Ok that said none of us can be bothered with politics we have a pandemic to overcome first and that takes priority over everything.  Anyway, Margaret and Len are still alive which is good as they are in the very vulnerable age group and both have comorbidities to boot.  The day we get a vaccine will be a day for real celebration.   We had a lovely supper last night we had "Trilie alla Livornese" or red m...

Good morning all sorry to be late but I got involved in watering the patio which I should have done last night but forgot.  The potted wisteria was looking all sad and droopy anyway everything has now had a good drink.  Then I picked up my iPad to write and got distracted by an advert for a local supplier of nice food usually for the catering trade.  Anyway I have put in an order for delivery on Wednesday between 8am and 6pm which is not a problem these days as I am in all day anyway. Yesterday was a bit overcast but today looks good with clear blue skies.  I finished knitting the beanie hat and still have more yarn so I may make another.  None of us like them so they will go into the clothes bank an hopefully keep someone else warm this winter.  For me they will have served their purpose and kept me amused. Denzil came home with some meatballs so they will be on the lunch menu and I still have some leftover potatoes and broccoli to accompany them.  Su...

Good morning all well at least I remember last night - I was truly confused yesterday not remembering the night and thinking it was afternoon not morning was really weird.  Anyway, it passed as time wore on and I became accustomed to the day.    Keith showed up just as I was dishing up the lunch which really is not the most convenient time so I gave him a few bits to be getting on with.  I hope that once he gets his parents back to babysit he will come during the week which suits me much better.  We still haven't had any rain though it has looked likely not a drop has fallen.  We still have quite a lot of wind which makes the temperature bearable as I am not fond of the heat. It is just James and I for lunch today so it will be something on toast I think and then for supper, we have some turkey escalopes which Denzil brought home yesterday.  I am running low on vegetables so I think I will have to raid the freezer.  I must admit that this lockdown...

Good morning all I have just had the weirdest night in that I slept right through and woke at 5 thinking it was 5 in the evening.  It is the most peculiar feeling everything tells me its morning but I don't believe it.  Anyway enough of that yesterday went well I got some watering and tieing in done in the greenhouse. The week's laundry is up to speed it was a lovely drying day with a strongish westerly blowing.  We didn't get any rain though most of the day was cloudy so currently everything is very dry.  At the moment I have no idea what to do for lunch I am still coming to terms with it being the morning.  I will have to have a trawl in the freezer and see what I can find.  We had a takeaway Chinese for supper last night so I should remember going to sleep.   I think Keith is due this afternoon so I must see what I want him to do in the garden and leave him a note.  I have two decorative currant bushes both of which need a serious hair cut...

Good morning all it is dull and cloudy at the moment with a fresh breeze blowing but it started like that yesterday and then the sun broke through and it was a sunny warm day in the end.  I am hoping that we get some rain as the garden could use it. Yesterday went according to plan and I was able to finish the next hot water bottle cover and have started a beanie hat which might be more useful.  Anyway, it gives me something to do with my hands which is not too taxing. I did have a bit of a purge in the kitchen and cleaned the cooker hood which always gets filthy.  I had a bottle of "elbow grease" on a recommendation from a friend and boy does it do the job.  I covered the hob with newspaper and then sprayed the hood and lovely brown liquid flowed on to the paper.  A quick wipe over with a clean cloth and it was done.  There is something about the right tool for the job and this stuff really does cut through grease.  Apparently, you can also use it on ...

Good morning all it is a bit cloudy this morning with a bit of breeze.  Yesterday was spectacular with wall to wall sun and it was nice and warm too.  We had the mackerel for lunch which I did with gremolata potatoes and a cucumber salad and a few spears of very poor asparagus. Could have done with a couple of slices of tomato just for colour it's a bit white and green anyway it tasted fine.  Denzil managed to get a huge bag of fusilli pasta some time ago and last night we broke into it and had it with a jar of mascarpone and tomato sauce.  It wasn't too bad but very sweet for my taste and really needed the parmesan to cut through the sweetness.  Lunch today will be some sausages and roasted cauliflower all courtesy of Tesco ultra-cheap department.  Denzil brings home an assortment of things some good some not so good but all ultra cheap so I for one am not complaining. We have decided it must be the pollen that is affecting both James and I. We both sneeze...

Good morning all, another gorgeous day on offer today.  Yesterday was warm and sunny all day which was lovely.  My fish didn't arrive until much later in the afternoon so for lunch we had a fridge clearing meal and for supper, James made a mousaka out of a bolognese sauce which was in the freezer and two rather sad aubergines which were languishing in the cupboard.  So the mackerel have been shunted onto today's menu.  I also got some frozen red mullet fillets and some New Zealand mussels on the half shell which are safely tucked in the freezer. Much to my surprise, the greenhouse didn't need watering it was quite wet still so I planted a second batch of coriander as the first has germinated.  However, I think the patio which gets the wind as well as the sun might be a different story and I am going to give it a good drink before the sun reaches it.   The clematis I bought last year is doing well in its pot which is not huge so that is going to need wa...

Good morning all, well sunny and warm today and so far no cold wind.  Yesterday was busy, well busy for me, two loads of laundry done and dried and a general run through the house with hoover and mop.  If we have another sunny day today I will need to have the hose out and water all the pots on the patio.  If truth be told we could use some rain.   James went to Tesco and did a shop for lots of bits and pieces we are running low on silly things like mustard and capers thing which make a big difference to your cooking.  He then set too and made his tortellini which were a bit on the dry side. the filling could have used a little spinach for moisture but for a first attempt it was fine and all was eaten so they must have been OK. Today I will be getting a delivery from the fishmonger and my veg box arrives so lunch will happen once everything arrives.  I hope it’s not too late or it will have to wait until supper and lunch will have to be toast and something....

Good morning all yesterday started off well with sunshine then it clouded over until late afternoon.  This morning is sunny but the breeze is quite cold I know as I am by the open door.   Lunch was a lovely roast chicken, it was only a small bird but it came with giblets which were great for the gravy and the dogs had no problem with the leftovers.  James has made a chorizo stew for lunch and he has made the filling for some tortellini which I guess will be for supper.  Denzil is back to work today after his week off.  We are short of some bits and pieces so James is going to Tesco but not until the first rush is over. I finally took some antihistamines which stopped my nose running.  What I find difficult to understand is why I am much worse downstairs and better upstairs makes no sense to me.  Maybe there is more pollen at lower levels who knows. I had a little wander around and took some snaps of the plants.  I have a small standard wisteria in...

Good morning all it looks like it is going to be another glorious day.  Yesterday was warm but when the sun disappeared behind a cloud it was quite chilly as the air is still cool.  I did sit out in the sun for a little while I knitted but I am not one for sitting in the sun so I soon retreated to the house.  I came downstairs this morning gasping for a cup of coffee only to find the coffee machine saying it needed descaling - I swore! it takes about half an hour to do the job and that is forever when you need some coffee.  Any way to pass the time I walked up to the greenhouse and turned on the sprinkler to give it a good water and I have set the timer so I don't forget and turn it into a swimming pool. James went to town yesterday and made toad in the hole which was lovely and he made an excellent onion gravy to go it and some frozen peas.  A jolly decent meal so we just had some tuna and mayo sandwiches for supper.   I have a chicken out for today w...

Good morning all well I think at last we might be getting some warmer weather.  I got so cold yesterday morning that I was shivering and then couldn't get warm.  The dogs had had a lovely swim so they were very peaceful and slept for most of the day.  Dogs are so easily pleased and require so little a nice walk a bowl of food and some cuddles and they are happy.  Dan and Denzil have a slight difference of opinion as Dan seems to think he kindly lets Denzil share his bed not the other way around.  Anyway is nice that they are such good buddies. The other evening the boys wanted pizza so we ordered a take-away well they always have loads of doughy crust around the edge so mine went out onto the roof for the birds.  The two starlings who have a nest next door came and got beak fulls and flew away and were back for the next lot.  Then two pigeons arrived and threw chunks of crust about and then they decided to fight about it instead and to their horror, a ...

Good morning all.  It is another beautiful sunny day but still very cold however it is due to warm up today.  Yesterday the boys had a bit of a shock when they heard that an old friend from university days had died from the virus.  He was 50 and leaves a wife and two children.  Two of Denzil’s mates in Thailand have succumbed.  It is really quite scary Denzil will be 50 in July and he is out exposed every day. On a lighter note he took the dogs swimming at 7 this morning and very cleverly bought some lovely pasties from the baker on his way home.  Both dogs are now sound asleep having demolished their breakfast. I did some crochet yesterday just to test out a pattern which looked easy and it was just double and treble crochet but it has a nice finish. It makes quite a solid structure so would be idea for a jacket or something that needs a bit of structure. Isn’t YouTube wonderful all sorts knitting crochet cooking and last night there was a Russia...

Good morning all, it’s another beautiful day with bright sunshine but I don’t know how warm it is.  We have had lovely but cold mornings then it clouds up over the afternoon. Yesterday Denzil decided he fancied making the Gordon Ramsey 10 minute curry it only took 3 hours but it was very nice and was a great way to get red of a butternut squash.  It is a very simple recipe but of course when you see him cook everything has been prepared for him.  Using a whole squash made sufficient for both lunch and supper.  The good bit is that the squash is grated and eventually melts into a thick gravy and the chicken is all but superfluous.   I had a very bad night and feel pretty rubbish this morning so I think I am going to have a quiet day knitting, reading and watching TV and dozing if I can catch 40 winks.  There is nothing that desperately needs doing for once so I can rest without a guilty conscience.  The kitchen is clean the house is tidyish and the laun...

Good morning all it is beautifully sunny but still very cold though the weather forecast is talking about a mini-heatwave at the weekend.   I have just read the new rules and realised that social distancing is still the main objective so it really doesn't matter what you are doing or who you are doing it with so long as you are 2 metres apart.  The interesting thing that I did read is that 50% have caught it from people who were asymptomatic.  I have been participating in the research study which is being carried out by Oxford and although I am well they want a broad spectrum of society and they now have 2.5 million which should give them the sort of numbers they want.   There are two questions it asks 1. have you had a test. 2. are you feeling well.   Obviously, if you answer you are not feeling well it then goes into a long list of questions.  Anyway, there is little I can do to help so this is something I can do and if it helps well and go...

Good morning all well it is gloriously sunny but freezing cold so I am going to dash up to the greenhouse and give it a drink and the patio plants need some too so a bit of watering in the sun.  Last night in a bit of a rush I took out of the freezer what I thought was a chicken but low and behold it is a duck so I will have to rethink my menu its ages since I cooked a whole duck.  I seem to remember pouring boiling water over the bird to tighten the skin so it goes crispy.  Anyway, I have the right vegetables in that I have some lovely heritage carrots, new potatoes and of course there are always peas in the freezer.  I even have and orange if I fancy making an orange sauce to go with it. In some ways the weather is doing us a favour it is so cold going out is not a good plan so maybe the idiots who are congregating on the beaches might think twice.  The sad part is that they will give the virus to some poor sod who has tried their best to isolate themselves....

Sorry to be so late but I completely forgot.   I made these yesterday they are Turkish meat ball stuffed with creamed potatoes.  Fun to make looked OK but seriously lacked flavour.  The meat balls had onions garlic and bread crumbs but the mash was too prominent.   Denzil did a steak which we shared with each other and a big salad.  Nice, as for supper I have no idea but I have taken out a chicken to defrost for a roast chicken dinner for tomorrow.   The weather has turned really cold with a bitter easterly wind so a day for knitting and TV I think. Have a good one.

Good morning all as luck would have it Keith came and did the greenhouse for me as well as swapping over my kitchen window boxes.  Once the early bulbs are over I have a second set of window boxes filled with herbs which take their place. The parsley is now in its second year so it will run to seed and need replacing.  And as I use so much basil that gets a pot of its own plus I have two plants in the greenhouse amongst the tomatoes. As for the polenta I sliced it very thinly and then covered it in tons of cheddar so that it was almost imperceptible which dealt with the problem.  Dan tried it before the cheese and correctly spat it on the floor however it was a different story when covered in cheese, the boy is no fool. Denzil is on a weeks holiday but sadly he can do nothing but join us in the lockdown.  Thank goodness we at least have good sun shine at the moment.  I took myself outside and did some knitting in the sun yesterday in an effort to raise my vitami...

Good morning all what a lovely day it was yesterday I spent the morning dicing and frying and made the ratatouille which was a nice accompaniment to the steaks we had for lunch. Supper was less imaginative we just had some cheese on toast as nobody felt hungry.  However, now I am left with one portion and three for lunch so maybe we can each have a separate lunch and do some fridge clearing.  I know I seem to be very well supplied but you must remember that Denzil comes home from work with loads of stuff which is going cheap and I try to slot it into the menu where possible.  I have a large block of ready-made polenta which is horrible and I have yet to find something sensible to do with it.  I actually like polenta but it has to be freshly made and I like it softer and with lots of butter and cheese.  I have a shrewd suspicion that this lump will possibly end up as bird food or maybe dog food.  I have tried slicing and griddling it.  I have also tried...

Good morning all it is gorgeous this morning sunny warm and quiet.  Consequently we have all slept in late which is unusual.   Yesterday afternoon and evening was strange as we had no cable TV suddenly mid program it just stopped.  So I checked with James and his tv was down too so after much mucking about we discovered it was a Virgin problem and thank goodness I had lots of Midsummer murders recorded to watch.  I also had a go at knitting continental style at which I am slow I then thought I would have a go at eastern style which I think would be very quick if you got good at it.  In the end I reverted to English style just because it is how I was taught and how I knit  most quickly.  Guess who watched a video on combination knitting? The hair experiment is over I finally got some shampoo on it and oh what a joy to have clean hair.  I was surprised at just how much effect manky hair has on your general feeling of wellbeing.  I lasted 10 day...

Good morning all I had a very bad day yesterday feeling none too well and with a miserable earache.  It was followed by an equally poor night so I am very late this morning because I didn't fall asleep until 4am when I finally passed out.  That aside it is a beautiful day again and hopefully a little warmer than it has been with this very cold wind we have had.  I think I have reached the limit as far as my hair experiment is concerned and I may just get in the shower and SHAMPOO it.  It has only been washed with water for 10 days and now I think I can't stand the lank locks a moment longer.  I had a long chat with Sandy and she sounds very normal when I asked how she felt, frustrated is what she came up with.  She feels well when she is sitting doing nothing but as soon as she tries to do anything she is very short of breath and the windows need cleaning.  Needless to say, I read her the riot act about cleaning windows I know only too well how irritat...

Good morning all, well yesterday was a beautiful day until the wind got you, it was perishing.  How fleeting moments of happiness are.  About 10 minutes after I got the call from Sandy to say she was home safely the phone rang again this time it was my friend Sue to say her dog had died.  This was a real blow Sue lives alone with her two dogs who are her life she was in floods of tears. If ever there was a time for a hug this was it.  I feel so helpless at times like this desperate to say the right thing and terrified to say the wrong thing.  Anyway because there was nothing I could I sent some flowers.  So from elation to misery in about 10 minutes.  I am just grateful that I am not one of the thousands who are grieving a loss. So that was yesterday, this morning I have gone up to the green house and watered the tomatoes which are struggling but not giving in and the weeds which are doing even better.  The patch of garden opposite is what I think...

Good morning all it is sunny but rather windy this morning and I am up very late but that is because I couldn't get to sleep last night until the wee small hours.  It never did matter since I retired but now it seems even less of a problem not only do the days of the week mean nothing but the time of day is pretty fluid too.  I am beginning to think life before clocks must have been rather nice with only the sun to guide you.  It reminds me of camping holidays when clocks and watches were left at home and we lived as we felt, we ate when we were hungry and slept when we were tired. Yesterday I made a chicken and mushroom pie for lunch but there was enough for supper as well which made it a simple and easy cooking day. The leftover puff pastry was made into cheese straws so nothing was wasted. How did we exist before microwaves do you remember plates put over pans of boiling water to reheat?  Today I am going down the same road with chicken number two which has poache...

Good morning all it is another sort of nothing weather day a bit dull but nothing worthy of comment.  Yesterday we had a cold salmon supper with lots of salad and some saute potatoes, which was fine if a bit dull.  While I was doing that I had a  cheap chicken that Denzil got from work, poaching in a big pot.  I set the temperature at 80ºC and gave it 2.5 hours of cooking time.  Today I intend to strip the meat from the carcass and make a chicken and mushroom pie for lunch.  The dilemma is, do I make shortcrust pastry or am I lazy and do I use frozen puff pastry.  and now for a beautiful bit of rationalisation - frozen pastry doesn't last forever so I had better use the frozen puff - see how easily I absolve myself of the work!!!  I must admit that I don't really like using flour or icing sugar because I am messy and end up with lots of it scattered or on the floor.  The actual making is easy enough but I make a mess and as I also clear up I ...

Good morning all today we have a fairly dull start the sun is trying to break through but failing.  Yesterday was a reasonable day I got the greenhouse watered and my little tomato which was so poorly is still struggling for life all I can do is wait and see if it makes it or ends up in the compost heap.  The little pots of cut and come again lettuce have started to germinate so they are underway and I put the bases of two Romain lettuces in a tray of water to see if they will root and sprout.  As you can see much of what I do is experimental I have a jam jar full of spring onions which are growing merrily in just water which I change daily.  They come in handy if you want a little of the chopped green part for a dish or a garnish.   On the menu today I think we will have a cold supper so to that end, I am going to poach some salmon and make some salads to go with it.  Lunch will be just James and I so it will probably be a sandwich or something on toa...

Good morning all well here we go again another day I have to check with the computer so I know what day it is.  I'm sure if I didn't write this stuff in the morning I would have no idea what day it is.    Yesterday was delivery day, very exciting, first, I got a delivery from Tesco and as Denzil was a day off he answered the door to his colleague who delivered to us which was nice.  Now, this is just between us I ordered a packet of 4 chocolate eclairs with fresh cream and yes I ate all four with my cup of tea in the afternoon and delicious they were.  In answer to Chrissie, I am trialling two butchers the first is a catering butcher called Stilton [like the cheese] and I have found their meat to be good so far.  The second is a company called Field and Flower the meat I ordered from them arrived yesterday so as yet I haven't tasted it but it was very beautifully packaged and the majority is now in the freezer.  I think there is a lot of good meat at k...