Another day

 Good morning all.  Just a quick note I have done something to my back and will be lying flat for the day and hope that will fix it. Have a good day back tomorrow.

Good morning all.  I am up late this morning poor Denzil has been up since 4 am in an effort to try to get some fuel but there is still none so he is forced to stay at home.  However, he has amused himself by walking the dogs, doing the laundry and assorted other chores.  He walks the dogs to the petrol station which is all pavement walking which is great for wearing down their nails.  Charging around in fields doesn't have the same effect. Yesterday was miserable and wet but today we have blazing sunshine and a bit of a blow so ideal for drying on the line. The temperature is down to a cool 10ºC but I prefer that to 30ºC. James has made the batch of bolognese sauce so no doubt that will be on the lunch menu.  I have a pile of filing which I should do and also some runner beans which need dealing with so that should keep me out of mischief for a while. I have been very good and done my Latin homework mostly because I enjoy doing it and only the computer knows ho...

Good morning all.  What a start we had yesterday the weather was filthy then out came the sun and we had a glorious afternoon so very much a day of two halves. Dennie is working her magic and James is making sweet and sour pork for lunch he then has the ingredients to make a batch of bolognese sauce which is always handy to have in the freezer.  Denzil was still unable to get petrol the garage had diesel but no petrol.  This whole nonsense is manufactured by the media and people are easily panicked following a pandemic.  Fortunately, we are solvent and Denzil's enforce holiday will not affect us too much.  However, if we were reliant on his income it would be a different matter so I feel really sorry for those who are losing pay because of this nonsense. Today we are chilly and cloudy but dry so far though the forecast is for rain later.  There has been a very distinct drop in temperatures.  I had a late night as I binge-watched Vigil.  I must say...

Good morning all.   Today it really is autumn it is cold, wet and windy.  I had a very lazy day yesterday but Joy's comment on my academic Latin made me laugh. If any of you have ever done a Duolingo language you will know it is anything but academic it is much more like a computer game.  It certainly doesn't feel like learning in the accepted sense.  Anyway, I feel it is a fun thing to do and marginally more interesting than playing patience and it's free so why not. James converted some cooked cabbage into bubble and squeak which was a nice autumnal dish and one I could eat until the cows come home.  Today I think he has a pasta dish in mind and he has discovered that being in charge of catering is a full-time job as you always need to be one meal ahead and frequently find you have things to use up before they go off not to mention remembering to get things out of the freezer. Denzil had another day off yesterday owing to the petrol shortage he used up a...

 Good morning all. It is only must getting light and it is very quiet so I guess there is little fuel about.  From what I can see it looks like a cloudy day but that's ok by me as I have no plans for the day.  I intend to do a bit of Latin to keep my brain alive and probably some sewing. Perhaps catch up on some programs I have missed. Have a good day stay safe and well.

 Good morning all.  James is all done and dusted his appointment was at 8.35 at a clinic some 11 miles away and he was back home by 9.15 so it is quicker to have your wisdom teeth removed than to phone the GP how ridiculous is that. The craziness continues as Denzil cant get to work as there is no fuel so instead, he took the dogs for a walk at 5 am which was quite a surprise for them. When James got home he wanted to stay busy so he took over the catering and we had mince and onions and mashed potatoes while he had some butternut squash soup. We then got a panic call from Margaret who was supposed to collect some medication from the hospital pharmacy but she was too unwell to make the journey.  So James stepped into the breach and collected her drugs and delivered them to her house and she kindly gave him a tenner for his trouble. so he bought himself a plain chow main takeaway as he could manage noodles. Today he going to have chicken noodle soup and we are having fish ...

Good morning all.  I have just seen James off to have his wisdom teeth removed and needless to say, he is like a cat on a hot tin roof so I hope it all goes well. I guess he will be on jelly and ice cream for a day or two. Having read Chrissie's blog I was gutted for her it was not the news she was hoping for however, they are getting on with what needs to be done.  I sent her my phone number in case she wants to have a rant or just a chat there is nothing else I can do except be there if she needs to let off some steam.  We have been pen pals for so many years I feel she is a good friend. It is a beautiful sunny day here quite chilly but lovely nonetheless. Apparently, we are in for an arctic blast but not just yet. Yesterday I decided to make a Spanish cauliflower dish which has loads of garlic and paprika however when I took off the outer leaves it was purple.  It tasted fine but looked absolutely disgusting better eaten with your eyes closed. Today I am on cateri...

Salve friends guess who did their Latin homework yesterday at the moment it is quite easy stuff but you need have no fear I will not be writing my blog in Latin any time soon. Lots of good wishes to Remi, who is Marjoies other half, as he is 80 soon.  That is a big birthday so many happy returns. I went to town yesterday as we had some sweet corn cobs and some sweet potatoes we had a southern American lunch.  Fried chicken with creamed corn and sweet potato mash with sage butter.  Today I have a cauliflower to use up so I am going to do it in a Spanish style with garlic and sweet paprika.  I often think we are so lucky to have access to so many recipes from all around the globe. Not to mention access to all the ingredients.  Youtube is a great resource as there are loads of step by step cooking shows done by home cooks rather than famous chefs who tend to overcomplicate things. It looks like another glorious day with wall to wall sunshine the laundry is already ...

Good morning all.  It looks like another nice day weatherwise, yesterday was gorgeous with lots of sunshine.  Dan has just completed his morning inspection he checks all the boundaries of the garden first thing in the morning and then last thing in the evening. I'm not sure what he is checking for but he seems to think it is some kind of duty. Keith the gardener came and took some of the height out of the bamboo which has become a nuisance especially when it rains as you get soaked on your way to the freezer in the garage. He also chopped down a hydrangea petiolaris which was invading the garage roof. I had a lazy day doing my hair and nails.  I also had a long chat with Shiona on the phone.  She is up to her neck in trying to sort out a burglary that happened at the social club.  They have super video footage of the event but the police couldn't be less interested so she is battling with the repairs and the insurance company.  Her concern is that the whole...

Good morning all.  We have had rain both yesterday afternoon and last night but thank goodness no thunder so no crazy dogs. You can see that the bamboo is bent right over with the weight of the water. I spent some time doing my embroidery but somehow my heart is not in it.  Then I did my Latin lesson and followed that with some egyptology and a fascinating program about sperm whales. You can learn a lot from the TV if you chose judiciously. Sadly there is also tons of garbage.  James did us sausage egg and chips for lunch and a nice chorizo and red pepper stew for supper.  As Denzil is off today I think we will be having the lamb and the fennel dish I made earlier. Keith the gardener is due this afternoon and there is plenty for him to do in terms of cutting back as everything has gone mad with the good summer [well good for plants that is]. I think today will be much like yesterday I will plough on with the embroidery at the moment I am doing acres of stem stitch wh...

Good morning all.  It looks pretty dull outside and we had some rain yesterday afternoon and it looks like we had some more overnight.   As it started to rain there were some rumbles of thunder so the dogs went crazy Dan kicked my door open and demanded entrance to the wardrobe and Tubby took to the bookshelves.  I must say I am not looking forward to the November fireworks it's going to be hell.  We had real comfort food for supper last night.  James had made a big macaroni cheese which was lovely as it was made with three kinds of cheese gruyere, cheddar and parmesan.  I used some of his sauce to coat some cooked fennel which is on today's menu along with some lamb steaks. We were discussing Christmas and have decided that as none of us really like turkey we are going to opt for a large slab of beef and all the trimmings instead.  So far I have not noticed any lack of food in the supermarkets but things may well get worse before they get better....

Good morning all.  What a fabulous day it was yesterday sunny and warm with a gentle breeze my idea of perfection. It also makes a difference if you don't feel like a dishcloth.  I got on and made a beetroot salad which went down well with some fish cakes.  Denzil brought home some summer fruit salad which made an excellent dessert.  Today he has put in a request for macaroni cheese which is simple enough as the thermomix makes a very decent cheese sauce. Joy was saying she felt the need to do something educational and I know the feeling.  I have discovered that Duolingo does Latin so I have been brushing up on my dismal Latin.  It never ceases to amaze me how many words are Latin based.  It seems for a supposedly dead language it is very much alive.  Anyway, it is fun to play with and of course, it doesn't matter how bad I am only the computer knows! I had some pictures from my cousin who has spent the summer on his yacht, poor sod it makes your ...

Good morning all.  What a saga I had yesterday.  I have been getting my prescription from pharmacy2you and so far it has all gone smoothly but this last order was minus one drug so I queried it with them and they told me it was my GP who had not agreed to it.  So I telephoned on Thursday only to be told they were having a study day so phone again on Friday at 8am.  Fine, so that is what I did only to be on hold for an hour. I was told the prescription would be ready sometime after 12 and would be with the pharmacy.  I rang the pharmacy at 4.15 and that took some time as they are slow to answer the phone.  They checked and said they didn't have the prescription and I had better contact the surgery.  This time I was only on hold for 30 minutes only to be told that they had just sent the prescription to the pharmacy at 5pm.  James went and collected it for me at 6pm and this morning I feel like a human being again. To say that my GP's surgery is usel...

Good morning all sorry to be so late but I have just spent an hour on hold trying to get through to my doctors surgery.  They were unavailable yesterday as they had a study day.  Anyway, to cut a long story short, they have failed to prescribe one of my medications and I am now quite unwell.  Hopefully they should have the prescription ready for this afternoon and one of the lads can fetch it for me which should rectify the situation.   James did us a very nice roast chicken for for lunch yesterday and I have portion saved for my lunch today.  The carcass has been put through the pot so there will be a chicken dinner for the dogs and some chicken noodle soup for our supper. At the moment it looks like we are going to have a nice sunny day but sadly I am very dizzy and wobbly on my feet so I am going to retreat to my room and keep out of mischief.  I hope to be feeling significantly better by tomorrow until then stay safe and take care of yourselves.

Good morning all sorry about my curt blog yesterday but I was so tired from a sleepless night.  I waited up to see Dennie in and then took off back to bed where I slept soundly until lunchtime.  By the time I woke it was a lovely day and all the previous day's rain had dried up. When it rains the big bamboos lean over with the weight of the water and form a tunnel between the house and the garage. They are now standing upright again.   Dennie did a lovely job and clean all the glass in the dining room so it is all lovely and sparkly again.  James made a nice chicken pie with a mash top and for supper, he made sweetcorn fritters to which he added a hint of chilli.  I really am very lucky and I know it. My breathlessness continues to be a problem and I get exhausted very quickly.  Today I am going to change my bed and that will be a big job for me.  I try to avoid going up and down the stairs too often as they are very steep and I find them difficul...

 Good morning all.  I had a very bad night so I am going back to bed to see if I can get some sleep.  Have a good day.

Good morning all.  This morning I lay in bed cosy and warm as I watched the rain falling.  There is some kind of primaeval comfort in being warm and watching the rain outside it is good to be safe from the weather.   James is making chicken curry for lunch and my poor "hard done by" dogs have got lambs kidneys for their supper. I know this sounds kind of wasteful but the kidneys would end up in the bin if the dogs didn't have them. I am reticent to freeze them as they are at the end of their shelf life and they are cheaper than dog food. With regard to my comment about zinc, I think those of us who eat a very mixed diet have little to worry about but it could prove difficult for the more finicky eaters. Of course, some of the best sources of zinc are oysters and other seafood all of which I love.  Dairy is quite good too again a popular food in this house. OK it has stopped raining and it is time to refill the coffee mug so have a lovely day and stay safe.

Good morning all.  It is a bit of a dull start to the day but that usually means it will brighten up later.  If it starts bright it then clouds over later. I think this is a normal pattern as we live close to the coast.  We had an amusing occurrence last night when the boys ordered a takeaway pizza.  The delivery boy telephoned the house from our front doorstep which seemed a bit odd but when the boys went to the door the poor lad explained he was allergic to bees and there was one sitting on our doorbell.  At least he had the sense to telephone us so we could answer the door and he could beat a hasty retreat. James has made courgette pancakes to have with fish cakes for lunch nice and simple and as the courgette batter is made not much work.   Sadly I have finished my book however it was very informative and an unusual perspective on a murder plot while not being a 'who done it' and it has a good poke at the establishment who almost let the perpetrato...

Good morning all.  We have scattered clouds and some weak sunshine which is fine by me.  My day off yesterday was lovely but I still have a few chapters to read so I will finish the book before I start anything else. The book I am reading is called "A plot to kill" which is written by Professor David Wilson who is a criminologist and it is an analysis of a murder that took place in a sleepy English town. It isn't a novel as such as it is obviously written by an academic but it does give a fascinating view of the characters involved.  I think it might be a book you might like Marjorie, shall I post it on to you but if you hate it please bin it?  I had a mortadella sandwich for lunch and a Chinese spring roll and a lemon mousse for supper.  I had no real appetite so that was exactly what I wanted.  Sadly we had next doors dog howling and barking until 10pm.  I find it really difficult to listen to an animal in distress for hours and hours knowing there i...

Good morning all.  It is a very autumnal day overcast and dull but so far dry. I have a grand plan for the day.  I have a new book to read and I intend to curl up in a ball with a mug of coffee and read.  After yesterdays stupidity I feel like a dishcloth this morning so I am granting myself a day off.  The fridge is full as is the freezer so anyone who is hungry can feed themselves. The laundry is up to date so really there is nothing urgent to do.  James made a big pot of leek and potato soup which will suit me fine. So without further ado, I will fill my mug and get stuck into my book.  Have a lovely day stay safe and be happy.

 All my anxiety came to nothing.  The delightful gentle kind new dentist has given me a clean bill of health. James needs more work to rectify dismal poor previous work plus a hospital visit to remove his wisdom teeth.  He too is happy with this new Dentist. I now have a self-inflicted adrenalin hangover headache. Why does my body not listen to my mind?

Good morning all.  I have just read Chrissie's blog and what a day she had yesterday she must be knackered. I do hope that when she gets the results it's good news and she can rest easy at least they are being very vigilant which is good news. The temperatures have dropped here so it is nice and comfortable but I am wound up like a watch spring as I have a dental appointment at lunchtime and I have a horror of the dentist.  I had some bad experiences as a child and have never quite got over them.  I'm sure it will be fine but my mind doesn't believe me.  James is coming with me as he too has an appointment so we can hold each other's hands! I think lunch will have to be every man for himself as we are out and maybe we can treat ourselves to a takeaway for supper. Or maybe it will have to be soup! Thank you for all your information on the box problems I am going to let nature take its course and if necessary replace the box with something else. Well, that's about...

Good morning all.  It is a lovely cool morning with sunshine following a storm last night.  Thunder lightning and rain around midnight.  It was lovely to fall asleep to all cosy in my duvet. Today my thoughts are with Chrissie and I sincerely hope it is all a storm in a teacup.  It did however remind me of my sister in law.  She phoned me at work one day in quite a state as she had found a breast lump and as her husband was having problems at work she hadn't told him.  I told her to put the kettle on I was on my way.  I cancelled my afternoon teaching got in the car and drove like a bat out of hell to Peterborough. After lots of tears and tea, I broke the news to her husband and her two sons when they arrived home.  It turned out to be nothing which is often the case.  This is the same sister in law who hasn't spoken to me since Mike died.  "No good deed goes unpunished".  Well, enough of that it is a memory not worth remembering....

Good morning all.  At the moment the weather is perfect it is sunny 20º with a gentle breeze. What more could I ask for. Yesterday was a day of minor mishaps first Keith the gardener informed me that my box hedge was covered in caterpillars and was looking very poorly.  I have two choices let them do their worst and then dig out the hedge and burn it.  Or I could try spraying with a general-purpose insecticide and maybe save it if it's not too far gone. Then the pond filter blocked and pumped a few hundred gallons of water over the garden.  Fortunately "Neil the pond" was just down the road and came immediately to sort out the problem. It will take a good few hours for the hose to refill.  When we first filled it took three days and nights and fortunately we were not metered for the water in those days.  Anyway disaster averted so let's hope it's plain sailing from now on. My veg box arrived with my first load of runner beans so they will be on the lunch me...

 Good morning all.  What a beautiful day we had yesterday once the fog had lifted it turned into a lovely warm sunny day and today looks the same. I wish I had known that all it took was for me to get my duvet out for the weather to change.  I would have done it sooner! I was very pleased with the beetroot salad especially as it isn’t my favourite vegetable.  The beets are first roasted in their skins then peeled when cool and grated.  About a tablespoon of raw diced onion is then added together with a dash of oil and the juice of half a lemon and salt and pepper to taste.  So simple yet so nice it vanished in moments.  My Tesco delivery arrived early so I am now well stocked with toilet paper, tissues and kitchen rolls plus the cleaning products for Denny. The fridge is full to bursting so we won't need to shop for quite a while.  I fancy an indulgent breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon but as I had a bad night I might have it for suppe...

Good morning all.  For days we have been under a cloud but this morning we are in it and I can't see the end of the garden. We should be in for a heatwave as I changed from my quilt to a duvet.  In fact, I spent last night being too hot, throwing the covers off then being too cold and grabbing them back.  Almost as soon as I put my quilt into the washing machine the sun came out and the weather warmed up.  I think I could easily become paranoid where the weather is concerned. Mind you it does give me something to talk about and I really wouldn't change it for another country. Today I have taken a pack of chicken wings out of the freezer which I intend to roast then make into broth to have with noodles.  While the oven is hot I have some beetroots to roast which will then be grated into a salad Polish style.  They will go well with my herrings which I did yesterday. I have a delivery coming from Tesco between 9 and 10 this morning so I should be fully restoc...

 Good morning all sorry about yesterday I was having a bad day and it didn’t help that it started with rain. My eyes have been giving me some trouble but Denzil got me some drops which have solved the problem though they are pigs to put in and I end up with more on my face than in my eyes.  I have suffered on and off with dry eyes since I had my cataracts done.  I think it is just another age related annoyance. Today it has started off dry but wreathed in cloud but hopefully it might brighten up later which seems to be the pattern lately.   My plan for today is to get my bedding into the washing machine and I think I am going to break out my duvet as it is quite chilly especially in the early morning.  I will also deal with the herrings which are cured and in oil.  I usually soak them for while to get rid of some of the salt then chop them up and add mayo and a diced apple which adds a bit of sweetness. I know it sounds strange but I like it, the boys think...

Good morning all.  I hope you are sitting down because I have to tell you we had SUNSHINE yesterday afternoon but we are back under our cloud blanket this morning. I was listening to Dr Campbell last night and apparently, the latest thinking is that we are all going to get the delta variant but those who are double vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus and less likely to get hospitalised.  I don't know about you but if I am offered a booster I will be the first in the queue. Marjorie Dan says thank you for his birthday wishes,  he got his birthday supper a day late as we waited for Tubby to get over his Deli belly.  He does make me laugh he sleeps in Denzil's room but the first thing he does when he gets up is to come and say good morning to me.  He really is very polite. Today Denzil is off work so it's kind of like Sunday for us.  James has made a basic mushroom sauce but as yet I'm not sure what he intends to do with it and we also have some s...

 Good morning all.  What a surprise we have drizzle this morning, I think we have had some rain almost every day this week. It is also quite breezy and chilly it really feels as if winter is on the way.  Fingers crossed it might cheer up later. I did something really naughty last night for my supper I had a plate of chips and tomato ketchup it was lovely and Dan helped me out with a few of the chips.  He successfully managed to get 4 biscuits out of Denny but it was his birthday so he was allowed to get away with it.  Poor Tubby was feeling under the weather and didn’t eat anything hopefully he will be feeling better today.   I finally managed to do a bit of sewing but the piece I am working has acres of stem stitch which is pretty boring but once that is done there are some mor interesting bits to do. I have no idea what is on the menu for today and the chef is sound asleep.  However Denzil brought home some polish herrings which I like but no one els...

Good morning all today is the first of September and it's Dan's birthday he is 7 where on earth have 7 years gone.  This morning I was sound asleep when Dennie arrived I had completely forgotten she was due.  Anyway good news I texted Mark who built the shed and asked to have the carpenter back to fix a piece of the facia and put the centre support for the work surface in place.  Two hours later he arrived; now that is what I call service. Anyway, the job is done and Dennie is giving the shed the once over as it is a bit dusty.  I have moved the ironing board out there so that has cleared a bit of space under the stairs and we no longer have to fight to get the hoover out.  Sometimes small adjustments can make a big difference. James has organised pork chops for lunch today and we have some green beans to go with them.  We are definitely moving towards winter food. Today seems a little brighter than yesterday which was really dull and we had two short sharp...