Another day

Good morning all.  The sun is not fully up yet but it looks clear of fog so hopefully, it will be a nice day.  Yesterday went according to plan and I got all the meal prep done bright and early.  As it was only James and I for lunch we just had some scrambled eggs on toast and the duck legs were kept for supper when Denzil got home. Sadly there is one duck leg left over as I constantly hit the problem of packs of two or four and we are three. In order to get the right numbers I have to buy three pack but I don't necessarily want a freezer full of chops or duck legs. This must be a problem for any families with odd numbers. Right, that is this morning's gripe.  I spent quite a while on my sewing and have left the most difficult part for the end anyway so far I am pleased with it so I hope I don't mess up the butterfly.  If you are wondering about the clingfilm it is to help keep the fabric from slipping and getting loose. The menu today consists of one of the she...

 Good morning all.  Today looks a bit grim thick cloud and mist a very grey day so far. Yesterday was a using up day but the fish cakes were quite acceptable as I also added some fried onions and a rather sad red pepper. Last night just as I was settling down  to sleep some idiot decided to let off fireworks so Dan went into meltdown and insisted on getting into the wardrobe.  He is a big lump if he decides to do something he isn’t easy to move. Tubby was climbing into the book shelves.  I really wish fireworks were not available to the general public.  Don’t get me wrong I love fireworks but they need to be restricted from idiots. I am making progress with the sewing but there is still plenty to do and the butterfly will be quite difficult. On the menu today I have some duck legs and a pointy cabbage.  I will do the cabbage with bacon apple and onions which seems to be a favourite with the boys. Cabbage is not the most exciting vegetable but done like...

Good morning all it looks like we are in for another sunny day following a frosty start.  I spent much of yesterday morning supervising the thermomix which was making a turkey dish which we had with rice for lunch and there was lots of the gravy left so today we will call it soup.  I have some leftover mash which will be converted into tuna fishcakes. I am a firm believer in "waste not, want not" so today is all about using up stuff. I got on with my sewing sitting in the glorious sunshine which makes such a difference to how you feel.  I had thrown a couple of fat balls onto the roof and the pigeons just played football with them and kicked then into the guttering but much to my surprise I then saw a wren who was quite happy sitting in the guttering having a meal.  I haven't seen a wren for ages they were once very common birds, but they seem to be quite rare now at least in my garden.  I am anticipating a quiet day today and will probably get on with my sewing...

Good morning all, this morning saw a frost for the first time in ages but the sun is shining and it has all but gone.  I have pristine clean windows as the new window cleaner came yesterday and as fortune would have it he is a dog person so that made things much easier as he wasn't bothered by their careful inspection of him and all his kit. Once he passed the dog's test he was allowed to clean the windows without being barked at. The only time they bark is if there is someone at the front door or occasionally if someone they disapprove of has the temerity to walk down our road. This is the picture Denny chose for herself and it arrived yesterday so there is no panic in case I run out of sewing to do.  Stitch wise it is quite simple so it shouldn't take me too long I will then have another three ready for framing. Today I am going to cooked a turkey thigh using the slow cooker facility of the thermomix which should be fun and hopefully tasty.  Well, how can you go wrong w...

 Good morning all. Denny came and after a short discussion, we decided the best solution to my grubby house was to attack it room by room and blitz each one in turn rather than give it all a lick and a promise. So you are now in danger of going blind in my kitchen she has scrubbed it to within an inch of its life.  It is tiled from floor to ceiling and all the cupboards and shelves are white and the windows are sparkling.  It took her the full three hours and a step ladder but it is fabulous. While Denny did the kitchen I set myself up a work station in the dining room and there did all the chopping and peeling necessary to make two large shepherds pies.  It felt slightly like sacrilege to then go and cook in the pristine kitchen.  Anyway, the pie was delicious and there is one ready for the freezer. So, all in all, I am delighted and it meant that while she scrubbed and I chopped we could chat which was also beneficial for both of us. Today I haven't a clue wha...

 Good morning one and all.  I fell asleep with my hearing aid in and the birds and next doors dogs had me awake bright and early. It is warm enough to sleep with my door open so that didn't help either. Yesterday's roast was a great success and we ended up with both Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes which meant we were all so stuffed no one could be bothered with supper. I had made some carrot and coriander soup so a mug of that was all that was required as a hot drink for bed. Today I have the job of dismantling the leftover joint ready for a shepherds pie I must say I do prefer it made with roast meat chopped rather than minced and it does look less like a tin of dog food with mash. Now I need to get my backside in gear as I have a sink full of meat tins etc soaking which makes washing up a lot easier.  I want to get it done before Denny arrives as I don't want to be paying her to wash up. There are plenty of jobs I would prefer her to do. It looks like we are in fo...

Good morning all well it is another bright start to the day and I am feeling very pleased with myself as yesterday I decided to tidy up ready for Denny and in so doing I filed all my massive pile of paperwork.  Then I tidied my room which was a real tip and now you would need sunglasses when you enter as it is all clean and bright and shiny.  I know this sounds ridiculous but once you start its hard to stop and there is still plenty for Denny to do but at least she can see the surfaces. Today is our Sunday lunch day and I have a leg of mutton to roast and I think the boys would prefer Yorkshire puddings rather than roast potatoes or maybe both.  And I still have plenty of broccoli to use up so that will do as veg.  A trivet of onions and carrots should make a decent gravy so hopefully, it should be a nice meal. I am really enjoying my sewing and it is not a chore but a pleasure.  Marjorie sent me some lovely books which are a fun read and so beautifully written....

 Good morning all.  We have been having lovely weather but it has been miserable in the west and very wet.  My friends in Bristol and Chrissie in wales have been deluged. I have more good news this morning Denny is coming back on Wednesday so I will have to have a good tidy up today she can't clean a surface covered in clutter. We are all now vaccinated and well so there should be no problems. I must say that you would think Tesco would make some effort to get their drivers covered but as we are fairly sure we all had the virus early on I am not worried for him. He has however done his back a mischief, considering he shifts around 3 tons of shopping each day that is no great surprise.  I hope it is just a pulled muscle that a long hot soak should cure. I spent a long lazy day yesterday enjoying the sun and doing my embroidery in daylight which is so much better than artificial light. It also makes a difference to be doing something I like.  The Thermomix made th...

 Good morning and it really is.  Yesterday was the best day I have had in a year Shiona was doing a click and collect run to Ikea in Thurrock which meant she had to practically pass my door so we agreed that as we had been vaccinated we were little risk to each other and she was desperate to pick up the Thermomix. So we spent a lovely couple of hours chatting about rubbish, drinking coffee and as she was hungry a couple of slices of toast and a lovely runny Camembert. It is just over a year since we have seen each other and boy was it wonderful.  The dogs went crazy to see humans in the house again Keith her friend was driving as she had sprung a rib but he is safely vaccinated and his whole family had the virus about 6 months ago.  I can't begin to tell you what a difference it makes to feel normal once again. Now I know what it must be like to be released from prison. The weather was gorgeous it was warm and sunny and my bedroom door was flung open and I could embr...

 Good morning all.  Isn't life strange yesterday I was so down it was awful but today I have woken cheerful and so much better? why? I have no idea. Nothing has changed. At the moment I am bracing myself to phone Virgin and see if I can get my emails. I rang yesterday and they had an hour-long queue so I went to the website, as they suggested, only to discover I don't know my mothers maiden name and I can't read their latest bill details now I am angry. So a phone call to technical support is in order and I must try to be polite. Today we are off to Germany for lunch we are having frankfurters and buttered cabbage it should really be  Sauerkraut but cabbage will have to do. My new sewing project is underway and the purple yarns arrived so I can do the grapes when I get to them.  I also put the iron over the swallows and they don't look too shabby and might warrant a frame. I also ordered some command strips so if push comes to shove I can stick them on the wall. The ...

 Good morning all.  My B******* email is down and refuses to let me in apparently I don't know my mothers maiden name.  Stupid machines some times I hate them.  My kitchen timer has also died so I have ordered a new one thank heavens for Amazon.    James went to macnades yesterday and restocked our coffee supplies and I made a bacon and courgette quiche which made a nice supper. Today I have some partridge breasts which I will have to give some thought to cooking I think I favour wrapped in parma ham.  My new embroidery is ready to start, it is mounted on the ring and I'm sure I have enough yarns with the exception of the purples for the grapes but they too are on order. By rights, I should be happy but I like a lot of us am feeling down and I don't really know why.  I guess it has been a long winter of being locked up desperately trying to stave off boredom. Hopefully, things can only improve. There seems to be good news on the covid front and pe...

 Good morning all sorry to be so late but I didn't get to sleep until the wee small hours and so I have slept in very late this morning. Thank you for your comments as yet I haven't decided what to do with the pictures I don't particularly want to keep them but can't decide what else to do with them. Personally, I don't think they are of saleable quality and if I put them up for the cost price excluding my time they would have to be around the £70 mark and I wouldn't pay that so it is still a bit of a dilemma.  The bit I like is the sewing, not the finished article. And a big thank you to Marjorie for the lovely funny books. James lasagne was enough for an army so we will be having round two for lunch today.  I had success with the dreaded beetroots which I grated raw with some carrots and an apple then added a handful of sultanas and walnuts and dressed with the standard oil and vinegar.  I'm pleased to say that has got rid of them.  It is quite warm today ...

 Good morning all, I sat and persevered with my sewing yesterday and finally finished it.  I knew if I stopped I would never finish it.  Anyway, as luck would have it the new one hasn't arrived yet so there was no temptation to dump this one in favour of the new one. Now I need your views should this one go in a circular frame rather than square. Somehow I think it might look odd in a square frame. What do you think? James went and bought a Pyrex dish which is the perfect size for his lasagne which is all ready to go in the oven for lunch when Denzil gets home. The weather is just dull but quite warm still, however, I am no getting my bikini out just yet we have had big snowfalls in March so I think this might be a false dawn. It must be very confusing for the plants but somehow they seem to cope with the wild swings in temperature. Well, that's about it nothing very interesting and I am hopeful that the new embroidery will arrive soon in the meantime I need to sort out m...

 Good morning, yesterday was so much warmer but we did have some rain.  James has made a big pot of bolognese sauce he's now desperate to make lasagne but the fish pie is occupying the right size dish so we will be having the pie for lunch.  I have a fennel bulb which will be good with the fish and my new veg supplies are due today. I hope that I only have a couple of days of this embroidery left to go and I must say I will be pleased to see the back of it.  I'm also glad the new one hasn't arrived as I would be very tempted to abandon it. I had a chat with Denny on the phone and I can't wait until it is safe for her to come back I have reassured her that I have kept plenty of dust for her return!   The weather today is blustery and dull but still on the warm side. Well, that's about it nothing very exciting just the usual plod through the day. Bits and pieces of housework sewing TV or audiobooks it's all very dull but very safe.  Have a good day whatever y...

 Good morning all it is definitely much warmer this morning and we are due for double figures that is quite some jump in temperature.   The faggots I bought from the meat supplier were delicious and very filling and we all agreed they will be on my next order. Today James is making a big pot of bolognese but as that will take a while to cook we will be having burgers and dauphinois which Denzil came home with last night.  I persevered with the embroidery while I watched the rugby it’s a good job the one I like hasn’t turned up yet or I would be tempted to abandon this one.  The one I have on order is just a printed linen as I have an abundance of yarns and can chose my own colours and stitches.  That will be a bit more of a challenge. I have been doing bits and pieces of house work but with no real enthusiasm. Yesterday I gave the bathroom a bit of a birthday but there is still the floor to wash and I would need the stepladder to get to the top tiles.  A bi...

 Good morning all I am very late this morning as I woke very early but went back to sleep which is quite a rare event but most welcome.  I had been wondering why I was feeling a few degrees under then, idiot that I am, I remembered the vaccine and of course my body is busy making antibodies. Anyway, now it makes sense I hate not understanding.   I knuckled down and made some progress on the sewing front. Then I got caught up in the rugby which was quite a nail biter with Wales desperately hanging on to a single point lead.  Today’s game is France v Ireland.  I don’t think I would want to be in Marjorie’s house as she is Irish and her husband French and the are both ruby fans so someone is going to be unhappy.   Denzil is back at work today and after our Mexican meals today we are going to the West Country and having faggots and peas with onion gravy and mash. Real memories of childhood for me.  We are not making the faggots they are hand made from the ...

 Good morning all we still have some snow and apparently we are due for more.  Yesterday was bright and sunny but still very cold. My meat delivery arrived on schedule so we had some lovely rump veal steaks for supper however with them we had Jerusalem artichokes roasted with mushrooms. Oh my what a windy night it was and I am not referring to the weather!  It is such a shame they have such a terrible effect on me because I really like them. I think I am having problems with some some sort of butterfly syndrome. I can’t seem to settle to anything nothing holds my attention for more than 5 minutes.  I really must try and do something and stick with it.   James is making chicken enchiladas for lunch today so he is after my iPad which has the recipe so I had better round this off.   Today I MUST settle to my sewing and do more than 5 minutes worth.  I think the problem is my heart isn’t in it as I don’t really like it.   Anyway have a warm safe and h...

 Good morning all. It is still freezing but sunny so rather nice as long as you are indoors.  I had a grotty night and slept in this morning.  I have just made a shopping list and James has gone to Tesco to get whole list of ingredients to make chicken enchiladas which he loves. We seem to be having a Mexican phase at the moment.  I think we are very lucky to have so many different cuisines available to us and it is fun to play with them.   Thank for the encouragement Annabeth I really need it as I am struggling at the moment.  I think I am just so bored I have too much time to think.  So today I am going to get on with my sewing and listen to some P. G. Woodhouse which is nice and light hearted fun.  I am going to be so pleased when we are finally allowed to go and see friends again.  I suppose I shouldn’t complain at least I have the boys and dogs for company but I miss female company.  There is a limit to my interest in football and c...

Good morning all it is still below zero but the sun is blazing which makes life so much better.  The news on the covid front is all good in my opinion as we have in excess of 12 million already vaccinated with the first dose which according to the figures is more than the whole of the EU.  I was thinking about the draconian penalties for possibly bringing in a new variant but anyone who is prepared to put the whole countries lives at risk really does need to be punished.  I had a really bad day yesterday.  I was hit like a train by wanting desperately to smoke, and it took every ounce of strength I had to resist the temptation.  Why did this happen?  I have no idea it was a bolt out of the blue. Thank goodness James had made a beautiful fish pie for supper and I ate a mountain of it then pottered off to bed and fell into blissful sleep.  All creatures sleep when their bellies are full why should we be any different? This is what is left of our snow I s...

Good morning all we still have snow on the ground and it is very cold, so I think ice is likely to be the biggest danger.  I am taking great care when walking as the surfaces are deceptively slippery and the last thing I want is a hospital admission for some broken bone or another. Tubby got very excited yesterday he normally gives you a gentle nudge if he wants whatever you are eating but as I prepared the kidneys for lunch he actually tried to clamber into my lap to get closer he was desperate for some so needless to say he was given some of the offcuts.  Dan doesn't do raw meat but he sure does cooked.   The boys took the landrover to the fishmongers and bought enough fish to make two fish pies one we will have for lunch and the other we will put in the freezer for some later date.  There were multiple cars stuck on a hill but the good old landrover had no problems and just shot up the hill.  It really comes into its own in bad weather conditions. I have...

 Good morning all. We now have some snow but it isn’t bad however it is bitterly cold so I think ice would be more of a problem. Yesterday I did the prep work and James made the stroganoff which we had with rice.  There is one portion leftover but it hasn’t been decided who is having that while the others will be having veal kidneys. I was looking up recipes and there are hundreds but I think I might just blast them in a pan with lots of butter. I did get on with some embroidery and I have finished one of the swallows which has several layers of stitching with no guidance once the first layer is done it is all guess work.  Anyway I think it looks ok so now I can finish off the second one. I don’t really have any plans for today so I think it will be a day of just keeping warm and entertaining myself as best I can.  Perhaps I will look at hanging my framed efforts or maybe I will just put them away while I think about it.when I eventually see my friends again perhaps ...

Good morning all yes we have snow but nothing to write home about and it is still trying to snow but in half-hearted sort of way.  However, it is very cold and well below zero.  Yesterday Tak's husband returned my embroideries framed and I am delighted with the results however I don't think they are of salable quality so I think they will end up on my walls. It is very difficult to photograph them as the light reflects off the glass, but you get the general idea.  Anyway, I do at least have something to show for being locked down for so long.  The embroidery I am currently working on will be slow as my heart isn't really in it as I don't really like the design and parts of it are horribly difficult. Denzil came home with a bag of 400g of chopped onions so James has converted them into french onion soup which we will have for lunch and I have taken a piece of veal skirt out of the freezer with the intention of making stroganoff.  I have all the ingredients bar so...

 Good morning all.  Well it’s snowing but it is like fine dust and melts as soon as it hits the ground. Yesterday’s oxtail was smashing and I finally decided to make polenta in the Thermomix which is really easy and cuts out the hours of standing and stirring for the authentic homemade stuff.  I love short cuts that work without ruining the finished product.  I think there is just enough leftover to add to a fry up for lunch. The stuff you can buy in a packet ready made is tasteless and horrid.  Mine is cooked in stock and has lots of butter and Parmesan added so it’s actually worth eating. Denzil is on holiday for a week so if the snow does get bad at least he will not be driving around the county.  We have a system that if the weather is bad he takes  the land rover which can deal with most conditions. I watched the rugby in the afternoon but was very disappointed with England's performance fancy loosing to Scotland what humiliation!  France did...

Good morning all. Well, I have had vaccine one and feel fine not even a sore arm.  It was the AstraZeneca type so it should be ok for the various strains.  Now comes the long wait for dose two which is in April but at least I am on the bandwaggon. The organisation could have done with a bit of streamlining as they took details in three places only two feet apart anyone with good hearing could have just listened and as it was all on the computer it seemed a bit overkill.  They only had two girls actually injecting so it was desperately slow.  However, I hope they will iron out the wrinkles as they get more experienced at the system. James made a big batch of Korean fishcakes for lunch which was lovely and we polished off the lot.  Today I am going to make an oxtail stew and I can't decide whether to make dumplings, mash or polenta to accompany it. For greens, there is some broccoli I think I might give the thermomix a go at making polenta which it did very well i...

Good morning one and all for once it isn't raining and there is even a glimmer of sunshine.  Shortly I will be off to Boots to get my vaccination which is at least a start.  I don't know which variety I will be getting but frankly, I don't care something is better than nothing. Last night I was musing and thinking what if we were to get together for a party what would each of us bring?  I though Marjorie might bring a beautiful Irish stew and colcannon potatoes.  Annabeth would have to bring a fondu and chocolate.  Chrissie would bring lava bread or caul and bara brith. Joy I think is a baker so perhaps some scones with homemade strawberry jam and cream or a lovely fruit cake and I guess I would have to bring a lasagne.  Funny what your mind does when you are trying to get to sleep! Needless to say, I didn't manage to get to sleep until the wee small hours of the morning.    Today James is taking me to Chatham then he has all the ingredients out t...

 Good morning one and all.  Yesterday was yet another wet day but as I stay largely indoors it’s not a problem for me.  The dogs don’t hang about outside either, it’s just a quick dash when necessary.  They definitely don’t understand getting wet and give me pitying looks as I get out of the shower dripping wet.   I made the beetroot tiki yesterday and I must say if I have to eat beetroot it is the best way I have so far found.  Between the Indian spices and coriander you wouldn’t know it was beetroot but for the colour. James has plans today for scallops with black pudding and celeriac purée.  Very chefy but nice flavours. I wish him luck with that one.  No doubt I will get to peel the celeriac which is very knobbly.   I have just listed to prof Specter who has warned us that the first dose of vaccine is not effective for 15 days so we still need to be vigilant.  I must say I am so used to this way of life it will make little difference...

Good morning one and all.  I spent ages yesterday getting to grips with the duplicate photos on my computer which I am glad to say I have finally completed.  I also made a good start on my new embroidery and sent the other three off to be framed. On the menu today we are going to have spaghetti carbonara which for once will be made correctly as I have some guanciale which is the correct pork product rather than the usual bacon.  I also have a recipe which may use up the beetroot that none of us likes. It is an Indian recipe for a sort of breadcrumb pattie sort of like a fish cake but with beetroot and Indian spices and fresh coriander. I am hopeful that it may be OK.   My new earbuds arrive yesterday thank goodness for Amazon.  I will try not to flush these away! sadly I didn't get round to doing the dusting but one thing is certain it will still be there when I can work up the enthusiasm. I do miss Denny but I would rather she was safe than my house w...

Good morning one and all for once I actually have something to say.  Yesterday saw both delight and disappointment.  I was delighted to receive my letter and have booked my vaccination for Friday morning and the second one in April.  At first, the website offered me places in Essex or London but I hung on and kept trying and finally I got Boots in Chatham which is only a few miles away. So that done I was thrilled so I wasn't prepared for the next thing that happened.  I don't know if I have mentioned that I have some earbud type headphones which link to my TV which means that if I get the call of nature in the middle of a program I don't have to wait for the adverts as they operate as far as the bathroom.  So yesterday I was wearing them and was just about to flush the loo and as I bent over to press the flush time went into slow motion and I watched the earbud jump out of my ear and hurl itself into the toilet just as the flush took hold.  Bye-bye earbud ...

Good morning and welcome to February, at least January is done and soon it will be spring and things always seem better in the spring. James made the melanzane parmigiana yesterday ready for lunch today and with it, we will have some sauteed chicken thighs.   Life here chugs along in its usual boring fashion and it is difficult to think of things to write when nothing actually happens.  Today being the first of the month I have some chores to do.  Meters to read, salt for the water softener and powder for the dog's ears.  Not exactly exciting but at least I am physically well unlike last year.  According to the papers half a million people have been vaccinated but I am not one of them.  How about you has anyone been vaccinated yet? Well, that is about it, time for more coffee and make a start on my exciting day!