The lodger and I have just finished putting together a small set of swings for the twins - a present for their first birthday tomorrow. We'll be having a party* on Saturday, with 4 children of the same age from their swimming class. #2 son and wife had hoped to be with us but he can't get leave so she'll be on her own. After a little foot shuffling the lodger has confirmed that he and last year's bridesmaid are a serious item and so she'll be with us too.
ION the new au pair is settling in well, the "old" one is about to go off travelling for a couple of weeks before flying back to Sweden near the end of August.
*The small party has now grown to c24 adults, 6 c1 year old children plus 5 older siblings. 😳
Enjoy the party @TheOrganist. The main thing I remember from our son's first birthday was him trying to touch the candle flame.
We did some gardening this evening. In the winter we were all full of talk about spending our summer evenings in the garden. I think this is the first time we've actually done it!
FWIW, my 36th birthday coincided exactly with our next-door neighbour's daughter's 18th.
We didn't have a joint celebration (!) but a few glasses of WINE were drunk in honour...
Warm again, but often Cloudy, in Arkland the Stifling, where even a north-westerly Breeze fails to refresh.
Feeling a bit flaky after Monday's Pilates, I've been pottering about (with Restage in between Potterings), and the Wheelhouse is now nicely swept and tidy. Some shirts may be washed this afternoon, if I can summon up the energy, but Lunch (SALMON FILLETS n'Crispy Potato Flakes) must be eaten first.
A most pleasant excursion to Stratford on the train today. Lunch was lunched (fish and chips in my case, husband en rouge wanted PIE) and we went to see the butterfly farm, where I've never been before. Very nice place.
We went to visit a butterfly farm years ago. My wife couldn't cope with the fluttering around her. She's the same in aviaries with small birds, but loves birds of prey.
My late m-i-l would have agreed with Mrs BF; she didn't like things flapping around her. We went to a butterfly place when we were in Newfoundland, and it was lovely, but nobody had sent me the "wear blue because that's what they like" memo, so my friend J (who did get the memo) seemed to be much more popular than I was!
Another nice summer's day here; a little warmer than yesterday, but not too muggy, so really rather pleasant.
Fridge-clearing for supper: some ready-to-eat salmon, salads and half a small quiche.
Tomorrow I'll have to either shop or cook, or have BEANS on TOAST ...
I had BEANS on TOAST this evening for supper as Mr Nen was out. It's one of my favourite meals. If I want something a bit more substantial I do a jacket potato with the beans instead. That was standard wintertime fare when I was a kid and I always hoped it would be that for tea as I sat on the bus on the way home from school.
We've had a very nice day, catching up with friends we haven't seen properly for some years and then lunching with some others. We really are having a very sociable week.
Cancelled meeting this morning (boss was ill) so I spent the morning on admin and the afternoon skim reading books on the history of mental health ready for my MA dissertation year.
Tea was monkfish tails with lentil and veg dahl (which meant I could throw in the remains of last night’s coronation chick pea salad).
Very nice walk with the Ramblers this morning and a council meeting this evening. I came home, in the rain, from the meeting looking forward to a cup of tea and watching The Great British Sewing Bee only to discover I hadn't transferred my housekey back from my rambling backpack to my everyday one. My husband was out for the evening and we hadn't replaced the spare key in the key safe. I had to phone him up and hoick him back from his evening out. While I was waiting for his return I walked back in heavier rain to the nearest pub and cheered myself up with a glass of wine. Fortunately he didn't mind too much, it had stopped raining when I returned home and I still got to see the sewing bee.
BT, don’t take her to Paradise Park near Hayle in Cornwall - they have free fling macaws, the owls and birds of prey fly loose into the flying ground — it is off putting having an owl flying about 6” above your head - and you can go into the “flight of the rainbow “ - an aviary of a flock of rainbow lorikeets which you can feed from small cups of nectar. They will come and perch on your arm and head.
Going into a butterfly house was, I think, the last straw for youngest Rogueling and she has had a phobia about all insects ever since. I don't like them because I'm worried about squashing one inadvertently.
BT, don’t take her to Paradise Park near Hayle in Cornwall - they have free fling macaws, the owls and birds of prey fly loose into the flying ground — it is off putting having an owl flying about 6” above your head - and you can go into the “flight of the rainbow “ - an aviary of a flock of rainbow lorikeets which you can feed from small cups of nectar. They will come and perch on your arm and head.
I’m back from getting my car serviced. I had to wait as there is no means of getting home and back in the time slot. Very pleasant environment, and extremely courteous staff. Free tea and a good book helped to pass the time. The only annoyance was that my car seat position had been altered.
Now to tackle the cleaning needed before my French group comes here tomorrow afternoon. Not much time in the morning as I have a dental appointment, a chunk of tooth having fallen out, leaving a rough edge.
No one ever opens an Earwig House or a Woodlouse Farm, why is this I wonder?
I took the kitchen stool/steps into the garden and tackled the hedge, which is a mixture of beech, snowberry, escallonia, grapevine and, I discovered, blackberry. It's going on 7 ft tall, so even standing on stool, with the shears extended, I couldn't quite reach some of the shoots at the further edge. I'm hoping new downstairs neighbour takes the hint and trims his side.
I am now comprehensively puggled and will probably fall asleep in front of Garden Rescue.
When I wake, it'll be to make cheat's kedgeree for dinner.
... When I wake, it'll be to make cheat's kedgeree for dinner.
What's in cheat's kedgeree?
Another warm day here (22°), so I pootled over to Tessie's at lunchtime to top up the salad supplies. Quite busy at work, but got most things done, so happy piglet.
... When I wake, it'll be to make cheat's kedgeree for dinner.
What's in cheat's kedgeree?
Usual stuff, just a few shortcuts.
Soften onion in butter in a large pan (the conical rather than flat). Put an egg per person to hard boil. Toss in preferred amount of curry powder and fry for a minute or two. Add frozen peas and a packet of microwaveable long grain rice, and more butter. Dab the smoked haddie with butter and microwave for 2/3 minutes. Pour the haddie and its buttery juices into the pan with the rice and peas. Serve with the quartered egg.
... When I wake, it'll be to make cheat's kedgeree for dinner.
What's in cheat's kedgeree?
Usual stuff, just a few shortcuts.
Soften onion in butter in a large pan (the conical rather than flat). Put an egg per person to hard boil. Toss in preferred amount of curry powder and fry for a minute or two. Add frozen peas and a packet of microwaveable long grain rice, and more butter. Dab the smoked haddie with butter and microwave for 2/3 minutes. Pour the haddie and its buttery juices into the pan with the rice and peas. Serve with the quartered egg.
Substitute celery for the onions and I'd eat that very happily.
Last lip reading class of the academic year this morning, followed by usual bookshop shift.
I then managed to watch some Tour de France without falling asleep, but it was a close run thing.
The weather here has been much more overcast that I thought it would be, though far from cold.
The swings are a BIG hit with the grandsons, so guess who has spent most of the last two days pushing small people and/or helping them with the small attached side? This old man is feeling cream-crackered.
The lodger has just collected his girlfriend from our nearest big station and they're making lunch as I type this. #1 DiL's parents (my fellow grandparents) should arrive in time for tea and #2 DiL in time for dinner. They'll all be going home at the end of their stay with runner beans which are abundant this year.
Other than that, we have to prepare for tomorrow's birthday party so I'm sorting out a treasure hunt for the older children. 🙏
I had to get an (emergency, but not urgent) dental appointment to deal with a broken tooth and I must say the dentist was quite the pleasantest I have ever had. He seemed very skilful, and explained what he planned to do and then what he had done.
That’s two good experiences of customer service this week.
My French group is coming here this afternoon. I’ve had to buy food which will keep or which I can freeze anything leftover, as I’m going away on Sunday, though I did make a fruit loaf. I am quite happy to eat every crumb of that myself if they don’t.
Another garden onslaught - clearing out the hanging baskets, rooting out the gone-over poppies, red campion and foxglove, beating back the bindweed from next door.
There's still plenty of colour - scarlet crocosmia, dark pink clematis, pelargoniums, dahlia, fennel - but nevertheless the word 'autumnal' comes irresistibly to mind.
Lunch next, then try and stay awake enough to do some watercolour practice.
My former dentist (now retired) was a gentle, softly-spoken, slightly-built man. He apologetically explained one day that he was the Bad Thing that happened to Good People...
Another warm, cloudy day in Arkland the Sweat-Bedewed, with no Breeze to speak of. Never mind - some Wash Ing has been done, along with a tiny bit of Paint Ing - and some more of the latter may be attempted after Lunch.
Lunch is SPAG BOL with Garlic Bread, accompanied by (of course) Italian BEER. The Spag Bol is one of Tess Coe's ready-made meals for Sad Singletons, but they're usually quite palatable. IMHO, anyway.
The former Mrs BF used to make an exceedingly toothsome Spag Bol, which included Tomato Puree (as neither of us liked Tomato in a recognisable form!), along with Mushrooms, Carrots, and Celery! Not quite a genuine Italian recipe, I suspect, but O! delicious nevertheless.
Tea chez Nen is also Spag Bol with garlic bread. Like the former Mrs BF I make an exceedingly toothsome one; in fact, I've never tasted one I like as well as my own so I never order it when out or have it as a ready meal as I know I'll be disappointed.
Mr Nen and I went out just after lunch to talk to a local venue about celebrations for our Significant Wedding Anniversary next year, and after that I had coffee with a friend and a Very Hot Walk back home.
A nice day of not doing too much, and more falling asleep in front of the Tour de France. I did go into town twice, the first time for my philosophy group, where I discovered I'd got the date wrong and its next week. The second time I brought some plants to fill in a gap on one of the borders and to have some very nice soup from our monthly community soup stall.
This evening I watched half of an Ant Man film (my husband's choice) before I decided it really wasn't my thing and bailed out.
I used to keep cockatiels. They flew free in the house. They were very good and did their business in one place only, where I kept an easy-clean tray. They had three chicks. I could hold them on my palm while the parents perched on my thumb and fed them.
Whenever my friend was visiting she called first and asked me to put the birds in their cage.
I asked her why. She said "I'm frightened of one getting tangled in my hair."
I laughed.
The next day Sunshine (they were called Sunshine, Moonlight, Star, Comet and Venus) got stuck in my hair!
It was a real struggle getting her out as she flapped and panicked!
I’m trying to pack for my singing summer school which starts tomorrow. The forecast is mixed, warm, not hot, with some possibility of rain. I have too much choice so can’t decide. A good dilemma I suppose, but I am paralysed into inactivity. I am hoping to manage with my smallest suitcase.
Yes. After the recent warm / hot weather, and it having been hot the last time I went to this place, I am struggling to think in terms of any warmer layers. The forecast is for 20-23 degrees. My sort of weather, actually. I might just need the slightly larger suitcase.
(they were called Sunshine, Moonlight, Star, Comet and Venus)
You missed a trick there - they should have been called Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times and Boogie .
I've been out for coffee and a few errands in town, then a hot walk home. It's really very muggy and uncomfortable, although in the house with the curtains drawn and the windows open there's a smidgin of a breeze.
I slept badly and have a niggling headache so am wondering whether painkillers and a nap might be a good idea for at least part of the afternoon.
Muggy and uncomfortable in Arkland the Humid, too, and I'm especially hot and bothered after an hour's worth of trying without success, but with many Norty Wurds, to reset circuit breakers - there are two, one in the Ark itself, and the other on the bank (where the meter is).
I was removing a redundant light fitting* in the forward cabin, thinking that it was on the 24v battery circuit, when I realised that it was actually wired to the mains . I managed to trip the circuit breaker (which, of course, is Good, and better than being Electrocuted) but have had one hell of a job getting it, and the one outside, reset. After much wearisome tottering up and down onto the shore and back on board, I phoned Neighbours T & F to see if there was any problem with their electrics. No, there wasn't, but T said F was on his way to rescue me. A few moments later, F (in his Angel Of The Lord guise) duly succeeded in resetting the main circuit breaker, with no problem at all. How did you manage to do that (sez I)? Cos I'm a f*****g genius, and you're not (sez he, with much laughter)! Sounds about right...
*The former Mrs BF installed the said light some 25 years ago. Quite why I thought it was 24v, I don't know - we very rarely used the 24v lights, anyway.
O well. The lights are back on, and so is the Remoska, cooking some nice COD MORNAY with Mash n'Peas. BEER is called for, Jaded Tissues for the Restoration of.
I went out to get the ingredient for tonight's dinner this morning. Nowhere seems to do vegan shredded 'duck' anymore which is a shame. I also bumped into a friend and had a good chat about books and the new bookshop that has just opened in town. This afternoon the weather was nicer so we headed to an open garden in a nearby village. It was interesting with some fun sculptures in it. I also bought another plant, so along with the ones I bought yesterday I think I've sorted one bit of the back border.
The weather is now nicer still, maybe we shouldn't have put the outdoor table away.
Have you decided how you're getting to your singing school @puzzler?
By train, hopefully @Sarasa, though I see there are major disruptions at Leeds today which may have a knock on effect tomorrow, so I haven’t bought my ticket, in case my journey proves impossible, in which case I shall be begging family to take me by car. Mind you, most participants will be travelling by train from further afield.
My case is now packed. Once I had swapped to a larger suitcase, it was easy. Just the bits and pieces for my rucksack to sort.
Tomorrow is a bit complicated. I’m down to read the lesson but I will sit in the congregation so I can slip out early, giving me time to get to my local Methodist church where it is the minister’s last service, followed by bring and share lunch.
That leaves me with about an hour and a half before my train.
I've had a lovely afternoon in my niece's garden, where it was Just the Right Temperature, and even Didn't Rain (it seemed to be thinking about it just as I was leaving to get the bus, but it didn't come to much, and by the time I got back to Linlithgow it was a lovely evening).
Must go now and check on Unpronounceable Old Testament Names™ in tomorrow's lessons, which I'm reading.
I hate it when I get the reading with unpronounceable names, and find trying to make sure I don't mangle Saint Paul's logical reasoning even harder. Glad you had a nice time this afternoon @piglet.
We went to see the sunflowers at Rhossili today - beautiful! A good friend sent me money for my 65th birthday and so we got some pyo flowers one pale lemon and one the “traditional “ sunflower colour, both with buds.
I’d rather read unpronounceable names (as long as you sound confident nobody will bat an eyelid) than read a convoluted argument about circumcision, as I appear to be doing tomorrow.
The minister at our home church likes to give a detailed talk about circumcision at baptisms. There is much squirming in the pews while he does this. Some of us wish he wouldn't.
I’d rather read unpronounceable names (as long as you sound confident nobody will bat an eyelid) than read a convoluted argument about circumcision, as I appear to be doing tomorrow.
I was given the same advice before I got a list of OT names: sound confident and no-one will question you.
Which reminds me of the time I was 15 or so and we were looking up First Fleet (first convict ships) records and I came across "alias". I had never seen this written and asked the teacher what an ah-lie-es was. Their look said it all.
We once had a reading with complicated names and the lector was clearly struggling but she carried on and at the end of it received a spontaneous round of applause.
I was given the same advice before I got a list of OT names: sound confident and no-one will question you.
Indeed. Add to that a brief pause before each name and then deliver it as though it were important (in the way you might thoughtfully read the fruits of the Spirit - "Love... joy... peace") and people will feel they're hearing something highly significant.
I hope everyone doing readings today get on well with them.
Hopefully I'm not doing the reading today but the meeter and greeter at my church quite often collars me when I come in to do either the introduction, readings or bidding prayers. He likes the fact I have a loud voice and am happy to stand in at short notice if someone hasn't turned up. Last time St Paul got well and truly mangled as I hadn't had a chance to practice it.
Comments
ION the new au pair is settling in well, the "old" one is about to go off travelling for a couple of weeks before flying back to Sweden near the end of August.
*The small party has now grown to c24 adults, 6 c1 year old children plus 5 older siblings. 😳
We did some gardening this evening. In the winter we were all full of talk about spending our summer evenings in the garden. I think this is the first time we've actually done it!
We didn't have a joint celebration (!) but a few glasses of WINE were drunk in honour...
Warm again, but often Cloudy, in Arkland the Stifling, where even a north-westerly Breeze fails to refresh.
Feeling a bit flaky after Monday's Pilates, I've been pottering about (with Restage in between Potterings), and the Wheelhouse is now nicely swept and tidy. Some shirts may be washed this afternoon, if I can summon up the energy, but Lunch (SALMON FILLETS n'Crispy Potato Flakes) must be eaten first.
Another nice summer's day here; a little warmer than yesterday, but not too muggy, so really rather pleasant.
Fridge-clearing for supper: some ready-to-eat salmon, salads and half a small quiche.
Tomorrow I'll have to either shop or cook, or have BEANS on TOAST ...
We've had a very nice day, catching up with friends we haven't seen properly for some years and then lunching with some others. We really are having a very sociable week.
Tea was monkfish tails with lentil and veg dahl (which meant I could throw in the remains of last night’s coronation chick pea salad).
Definitely won't go there! Thank you.
Now to tackle the cleaning needed before my French group comes here tomorrow afternoon. Not much time in the morning as I have a dental appointment, a chunk of tooth having fallen out, leaving a rough edge.
I took the kitchen stool/steps into the garden and tackled the hedge, which is a mixture of beech, snowberry, escallonia, grapevine and, I discovered, blackberry. It's going on 7 ft tall, so even standing on stool, with the shears extended, I couldn't quite reach some of the shoots at the further edge. I'm hoping new downstairs neighbour takes the hint and trims his side.
I am now comprehensively puggled and will probably fall asleep in front of Garden Rescue.
When I wake, it'll be to make cheat's kedgeree for dinner.
I've driven past (last week in fact) but I don't fancy visiting - especially the cafe!
Another warm day here (22°), so I pootled over to Tessie's at lunchtime to top up the salad supplies. Quite busy at work, but got most things done, so happy piglet.
Usual stuff, just a few shortcuts.
Soften onion in butter in a large pan (the conical rather than flat). Put an egg per person to hard boil. Toss in preferred amount of curry powder and fry for a minute or two. Add frozen peas and a packet of microwaveable long grain rice, and more butter. Dab the smoked haddie with butter and microwave for 2/3 minutes. Pour the haddie and its buttery juices into the pan with the rice and peas. Serve with the quartered egg.
Substitute celery for the onions and I'd eat that very happily.
I then managed to watch some Tour de France without falling asleep, but it was a close run thing.
The weather here has been much more overcast that I thought it would be, though far from cold.
The lodger has just collected his girlfriend from our nearest big station and they're making lunch as I type this. #1 DiL's parents (my fellow grandparents) should arrive in time for tea and #2 DiL in time for dinner. They'll all be going home at the end of their stay with runner beans which are abundant this year.
Other than that, we have to prepare for tomorrow's birthday party so I'm sorting out a treasure hunt for the older children. 🙏
I had to get an (emergency, but not urgent) dental appointment to deal with a broken tooth and I must say the dentist was quite the pleasantest I have ever had. He seemed very skilful, and explained what he planned to do and then what he had done.
That’s two good experiences of customer service this week.
My French group is coming here this afternoon. I’ve had to buy food which will keep or which I can freeze anything leftover, as I’m going away on Sunday, though I did make a fruit loaf. I am quite happy to eat every crumb of that myself if they don’t.
There's still plenty of colour - scarlet crocosmia, dark pink clematis, pelargoniums, dahlia, fennel - but nevertheless the word 'autumnal' comes irresistibly to mind.
Lunch next, then try and stay awake enough to do some watercolour practice.
It being Friday, beer, wings and corn on the cob.
Another warm, cloudy day in Arkland the Sweat-Bedewed, with no Breeze to speak of. Never mind - some Wash Ing has been done, along with a tiny bit of Paint Ing - and some more of the latter may be attempted after Lunch.
Lunch is SPAG BOL with Garlic Bread, accompanied by (of course) Italian BEER. The Spag Bol is one of Tess Coe's ready-made meals for Sad Singletons, but they're usually quite palatable. IMHO, anyway.
The former Mrs BF used to make an exceedingly toothsome Spag Bol, which included Tomato Puree (as neither of us liked Tomato in a recognisable form!), along with Mushrooms, Carrots, and Celery! Not quite a genuine Italian recipe, I suspect, but O! delicious nevertheless.
Mr Nen and I went out just after lunch to talk to a local venue about celebrations for our Significant Wedding Anniversary next year, and after that I had coffee with a friend and a Very Hot Walk back home.
Must remember to make a potato salad before I turn in, to take to my niece's BBQ tomorrow.
This evening I watched half of an Ant Man film (my husband's choice) before I decided it really wasn't my thing and bailed out.
I used to keep cockatiels. They flew free in the house. They were very good and did their business in one place only, where I kept an easy-clean tray. They had three chicks. I could hold them on my palm while the parents perched on my thumb and fed them.
Whenever my friend was visiting she called first and asked me to put the birds in their cage.
I asked her why. She said "I'm frightened of one getting tangled in my hair."
I laughed.
The next day Sunshine (they were called Sunshine, Moonlight, Star, Comet and Venus) got stuck in my hair!
It was a real struggle getting her out as she flapped and panicked!
You missed a trick there - they should have been called Sunshine, Moonlight, Good Times and Boogie
I've been out for coffee and a few errands in town, then a hot walk home. It's really very muggy and uncomfortable, although in the house with the curtains drawn and the windows open there's a smidgin of a breeze.
I slept badly and have a niggling headache so am wondering whether painkillers and a nap might be a good idea for at least part of the afternoon.
Stir fry for tea because Saturday.
😂😂
I was removing a redundant light fitting* in the forward cabin, thinking that it was on the 24v battery circuit, when I realised that it was actually wired to the mains
*The former Mrs BF installed the said light some 25 years ago. Quite why I thought it was 24v, I don't know - we very rarely used the 24v lights, anyway.
O well. The lights are back on, and so is the Remoska, cooking some nice COD MORNAY with Mash n'Peas. BEER is called for, Jaded Tissues for the Restoration of.
The weather is now nicer still, maybe we shouldn't have put the outdoor table away.
Have you decided how you're getting to your singing school @puzzler?
My case is now packed. Once I had swapped to a larger suitcase, it was easy. Just the bits and pieces for my rucksack to sort.
Tomorrow is a bit complicated. I’m down to read the lesson but I will sit in the congregation so I can slip out early, giving me time to get to my local Methodist church where it is the minister’s last service, followed by bring and share lunch.
That leaves me with about an hour and a half before my train.
@Bishops Finger - glad you weren't Electrocuted.
I've had a lovely afternoon in my niece's garden, where it was Just the Right Temperature, and even Didn't Rain (it seemed to be thinking about it just as I was leaving to get the bus, but it didn't come to much, and by the time I got back to Linlithgow it was a lovely evening).
Must go now and check on Unpronounceable Old Testament Names™ in tomorrow's lessons, which I'm reading.
I've got that one as well ... 🙃
I was given the same advice before I got a list of OT names: sound confident and no-one will question you.
Which reminds me of the time I was 15 or so and we were looking up First Fleet (first convict ships) records and I came across "alias". I had never seen this written and asked the teacher what an ah-lie-es was. Their look said it all.
I hope everyone doing readings today get on well with them.