DINNER
Boiled New Potatoes
A huge Salad with: Green lettuce, tomato, onion, carrot, green pepper, beetroot, capers, gherkins, celery, cucumber, feta cheese.
Lots of lovely olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Little Liberty (3 in July) has a toy phone.
When she presses a button, an American voice booms out
'You've got mail!'
Liberty thinks she says
'You've got milk!'

We had a lovely weekend with Molly and Eve visiting, grandaughters 13 and 10yrs old. We played charades, one of our favourite games, an excuse to act like a prat and get away with it.
We were taking turns acting out the motions, film, book, tv programme etc. Liberty said she wanted a turn and stood at the front of the room, like on a stage.
First of all she sang 'Baa baa black sheep' in a strong vibrato voice. If that wasn't cute enough, later on, she wanted another turn.
She stood there, like everyone else had and said:
'It's small, it's Teddy!' and pointed to her teddy bear on the table.

I don't do it justice, she was soooo cute, we all just smiled and gave her a clap.

Our neighbours, who come up for holidays in their second home stayed recently. Pete is an ace guitarist who plays in a band back home. We had a jam session with Mr A on drums and me on the good old Yamaha DX7. It was great! We worked out 'Like a Rolling Stone' by Bob Dylan. I used an organ sound and we played really really loudly...what a treat!

It's 'The Apprentice' tonight, I'm looking forward to it. It may not be rock and roll, but I like it!

I'm sitting here typing whilst Mr A is on the outside of a huge gap in the wall where the window used to be! He is fitting the new window frame he made. It's a bit cold, it's raining, though not coming in as this room is at the side of the house.
I made a really big boo boo yesterday. I got carried away with planting seedlings out, as it was dry. There were 10 pots in the cold
frame, I thought they were wallflowers. Turned out they were Mr A's global artichokes that he'd potted up carefully and nurtured from seed. They were to have stayed in the pots for the winter and then get planted out in the garden next spring.
I planted them out in the front flower bed.
He was (is) a bit upset.
Whooops!
The empty pots were quickly filled with pepper seedlings that were looking for a bigger home.
Now it's raining.......
I think it's time to go, Mr A is painting wood preservative round the hole where the window's going..

Oooo! I've tagged by Eggbod to write 7 random facts about myself, and then tag 7 others to do the same.

1. I've screamed whilst going up in a microlight.

2. I can't dive into water.

3. I can still do a pirouette.

4. Big spiders in my house makes me very uneasy.

5. I talk to animals and plants, including trees.

6. I love my son's dog, Rocket, and she loves me.

7. When I visited Australia, I couldn't sleep much at all.

I tag:
Going Somewhere
Menopausal Mama
Flipkicker
Abilene
Subville
Purple Dragon
Draculass
Moltsplace

THURSDAY DINNER
Lamb Pie
Quinoa (like cous cous)
Coleslaw
Salad a la Moi

WEDNESDAY DINNER
Noodles in Black Bean Sauce
Stir fry veg, onion, yellow pepper, celery, organic carrot.

Yes, I'm back on the salads! With loads of olive oil and some balsamic vinegar they are always worth the effort, as I'd been skimping on meals earlier in the week.

I've got into the habit of watching 'The Jeremy Kyle Show' first thing in the morning. For you who haven't seen it, it's a bit like Oprah, getting people in who are not in happy relationships, and slag each other off on t.v. Jeremy weighs in like a heavyweight boxer with his opinions and doesn't hold back from telling people when he thinks they are a waste of space. So:

I've now been watching, for a while,
that opinionated presenter,
Mr Jeremy Kyle.
Why people put up with his slaggings off,
I don't know.
Unless they are so desperate to come on the show.

He humiliates people on national t.v.,
it's so fascinating to watch,
them crumble, you see.
The audience boo the baddies
and cheer those in the right.
This panders to the bear baiting worst in human nature -
and I could watch it all night!

DINNER
Cauliflower Cheese Grill (1)
Sweet Chilli Sauce

Gawd, I've gone off food! For some reason, I just couldn't be arsed to cook something 'proper' tonight, so stuck a frozen slab in the frying pan. Not enough nutrition, but sod it, I'm drinking smoothies which contain loads of fruit.
Needless to say Mr A is away this week...

For some reason when I try to reply to a comment, it goes to the 'no server found' page. So, don't think I've forgotten all you out there...I just can't leave a comment....

DINNER
Chicken Curry with Pataks Excellent Coriander and Lemon Paste
Basmati Rice
Salad a la Moi

My 11 yr old grandaughter asked if I'd heard of Calvin Wilson. I said no and she shakes her head in a pitying way. I know I'm out of touch with 'yoof' music, but he sounds like an American ex president to me.
Had all 3 grandaughters here this morning. Ordered chaos it was. With Molly playing Tomb Raider, Eve playing her new song on the keyboards and Liberty constantly asking to bounce on the bed! It was fun, and then I had to go to the shops, we'd run out of bread, and Mr A needed beer for when the yard arm goes down.

Scarabella have had 2 great gigs since I last logged on. The friday evening one was for a charity which works with street kids in Kenya. On saturday it was harder work. A busy cafe singing without mikes, having to yell a bit to be heard. That was for a project in Africa called 'water roundabouts' where roundabouts help to pump water out of the ground. Good fun, as people were donating money per song, at least I hope they were!

Planted out Californian Poppies, Marigolds and lettuces. The weeds have sprung up in this rainy week! Mr A has planted out brussel sprouts and the asparagus have appeared.
I planted some seeds from a sweet red pepper I bought from the shops, and yes! They've all come up! So, don't bother buying seeds from peppers, just bung some in a pot from the veggie itself.
I feel extraordinarily pleased with myself that nature has decided to live, because I made it possible...

Been watching 'Green Wing' on dvd, second series. Gawd it's funny! Such eccentric characters playing out such off the wall plots. Great writing!
Mr A has been listening to the cricket. He said the game was at a crucial point. I said that I didn't think 'crucial' and 'cricket' could be in the same sentence! It is the most boring thing to listen to, yet alone watch! Still - viva la difference!

I had always wanted to pay a visit to a Sushi bar, as seen on telly, with such pretty looking portions of food with nice incomprehensible names.
I had Bara Chirashi. Which was: tuna salmon, caviar (a bright orange concoction), crab, squid, prawns, sweet shrimp, egg, surf clam, blended pickles, cucumber, wasabi and soya sauce garnished with seaweed on rice with miso soup.
Very prettily cut up, but some of it I couldn't eat as it was too rubbery, especially the squid. There was a lump of something bright green which looked like ice cream. It was horseradish and very, very hot! I managed to shovel most of the food onto the chopsticks provided, not very neatly I might add. Still, a new gastronomic experience!
I still prefer the potato wedges with Chilli n Cheese!

We've had wet windy days since last blog which makes me want to hibernate like a bear and not come out till the sun is out.

So another singing rehersal tonight in preperation for our gigs on friday and saturday. All sounding good! We have an hours set of non stop acappella singing. We decided to split it into 2 as it was too exhausting to sing and dance without a break for an hour! Also, singing when tired tends to flatten the notes, so we end up singing in another key by the end of the song.

Mr A away this week, back friday. I did say that I would paint the new window frames while he was away. Have I done so? No!

Drip, drip, splatter, drop, drip, drip, drop, splatter.

Yes, accompanying 'The Best of the Eagles' is the constant pitter patter of rain upon a multitude of surfaces from hard roof to plastic. Big drops, little drops, all giving in to gravity.
The 2 cushions I left out on the deck railing to dry are getting more sodden by the minute. Still, no stress eh?
I am inside, dry. I am not homeless, seeking meagre shelter in a soggy cardboard pseudo room.

I got a text from a friend. This is what it says.

"Mums of the world unite! Lite a candle and say a prayer 4 little maddie 2nite. hope she will be found safe and well and returned 2 her family. from one mum 2 another lets all pray 4 her. pass this 2 all the mums you know."

So I passed it on, though I'm sure anyone with compassion would pray for her save return, whether a parent or not.
This situation is a nightmare for those involved. The thing that you dread to happen has taken place and you are powerless and a prisoner to time - waiting for news, alternating between hope and despair, with guilt flashing up to make you feel even worse.
Yes, let's all hope for a positive outcome that Maddy is found safe and well to be reunited with her family.

We have visitors later, for tea and cake in the late afternoon after they have returned from an Ikea expedition, which should take about 4 hours. I kid you not. 3 hours travelling to leave 1 hour to search for blinds.

DINNER
Roast Chicken
Roast Potatoes
Organic Carrots
Cabbage

Morrisons Walnut and Advocaat Flavour Ice Cream

World, or rather, Country leaders, you can email me via this site for free advice on how to solve the pickle your particular country is in at the moment.

I appreciate how hard it is to get impartial, sensible advice that is without prejudice or self interest. That is why I am offering this service, in order to help you to make decisions that will affect your country for the better.

I do have plenty of experience of giving advice. Perhaps it is not always sought after, but always given with plenty of thought and conviction that will help the outcome to be the best possible option.

For example. I wrote to Mr Gordon Brown, advising him to stand for election as the next Prime Minister when Mr Tony Blair resigns. I wrote this before Mr Blair resigned, on the 23rd of last month.
I did not receive a reply, but found, to my delight, that, indeed, he followed my advice and is now in the picture to become our new Prime Minister.
I did not particularly want thanks, or even acknowledgement for my help, but just give this example to show that I am a person on whose advice you can act in complete confidence.

To show that your trust in me will be rewarded, I will offer some advice as a taster of the skills that I obviously possess, in the decision making department.

1. To Nelson Mandela. Write a book on your life experiences. It will become a film, with possibly Tom Hanks in make-up to play you. It will be a shining example of a life lived with courage to many. As a word of caution, however, I would play down the part that your wife, Winnie, has played in South African politics. She has not done you any favours with her behaviour.

2. George W Bush. Get a hobby, something that will endear you to the American people. You need to gain their confidence after making such a bad decision about invading Iraq. May I suggest something like stamp collecting? Your publicity people could push this side of your character to show that you have some sensitivity and imagination.
I also suggest that learning Latin American dance could endear you to the people, and this would include your wife, Nancy, as she could learn it along with you.
I can practically guarantee that if you 'trip the light fantastic' by dancing a mean salsa on the dance floor, then Osama Bin Laden might just come out of hiding and renounce his part in terrorism.
Whirling Mrs B around in a rhumba can only project an image of someone who is no threat to anybody.

3. Mr Putin. You present as a person who does not laugh easily and takes things very seriously. May I suggest you learn the art of mime?
If your people can see you in white faced, white gloved costume, trying to feel the walls of an invisible room, then your popularity as a leader will certainly be enhanced.

This is just the tip of the iceberg where the iceberg is a block of ice full of good suggestions. My advice is well thought out, with a bias toward presenting an image of a person who will be easily loved.

Surely that is what we all want, irrespective of race, creed or colour. There cannot be any satisfaction in being involved in a war, where many are being killed, if the people do not hold you in affection. The massacre of civilians could almost be forgiven if you bring a smile to an overworked, underpaid worker's face.

I am offering this service freely, (donations only), to show motives of the utmost purity. Discretion is assured, integrity goes without saying, and complete confidence in a positive outcome practically guaranteed.

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER
Loyd Grossman's Wild Mushroom and Tomato Sauce with mushrooms, peppers, courgette and onion
Mash
Salad a la Moi

I should have remembered that last time I used that sauce from a jar that Mr A didn't like it very much. I forgot.
'What's that taste?' He said scrunching up his face in distate.
'Just wild mushrooms, it's Loyd Grossmans's sauce.'
'It's been a while since they were wild mushrooms' he said, managing to leave just a small amount on his plate. He was hungry.

Do you know he was right? How I thought that sauce was nice I don't know. He always knows when it's not a homecooked meal, those taste buds could win a medal for Britain in a food tasting olympics.
So, no more Loyd Grossman sauces for us!

The rain has stopped for today and I feel spirits uplifting in the warmer weather. Good news, my sister has joined this site from Australia. Hurrah! I won't give away who you are, so feel free to comment.
A few friends have told me that they read my blog, but they never comment. I know that I couldn't resist commenting if I read a friend's blog, so come on, leave your mark.
I think children thrive on routine, and I'll tell you why.
When Liberty, my 3yr old in July, grandaughter comes to visit, she loves to do the same things each time. They are:
1. Have a cup of hot chocolate.
2. Bouce on the bed.
3. Make a large worm of material on the bed and jump on it, flattening it with me making appropriate hurt noises.
4. Have some olives and a gherkin.
5. Play a puzzle game, either Buckeroo, Thomas the Tank engine game with trains, or a jigsaw of Thomas. These are the most popular games.
We did have 'Jumping Tiddly Frogs' but most of them broke.
6. Have a wee in the potty and wash hands in the sink.
7. Hide and Seek.
8. If it's sunny then a walk in the woods with Rocket the dog, throwing a stick for her to fetch.

This is how it normally goes, and she visits about 4 afternoons each week. She comes in and asks for the hot chocolate then chooses one after another the things on the list. It's rare that she wants to do something else. If I'm gardening then she'll bring her spade and muck about in the earth, being delighted upon finding a worm which she will hold in her hand as long as she can.
In September she will be going to school - Then in December she will be going full time, at 3 and a half that seems young, but I think she'll love being with other kids as she is an only child, her 2 half sisters visiting occasionally.

This evening's Menu of the Day has yet to be decided, but it won't be coming from a jar! It may well be a fry-up...watch this space...

Aha! I have managed to post the photo of my newly painted front door as requested.
Da! Da!

It's still raining. Pitter patter outside my window, the sound soothes, so glad I'm inside!

I am not really a door, but the only place I could put the photo was as a header. You see, ahem, I've forgotten how to put a photo on my post! It's been so long! So, here is the newly painted front door.

I hope you all like it!

DINNER
Corn on the Cob (from Israel - naughty carbon footprint)
Sausages n Mash
Green Beans

DINNER
Cottage Pie
Salad a la Moi

A coldish start to the day with the wind blowing quite strongly.
Mr A's alarm went off at 6 which woke me up early. He didn't then get out of bed till 8! Blast! He usually does, and blamed it on the snooker. We watched a thrilling final last night but had to go to bed around 12.30 while it was still going on.
Now, you may think that watching snooker could be like watching paint dry - but you're wrong! I still can't understand all the lingo that the commentators use, words like 'that's going to be a thin shot.'

Off to the big city soon to tell 'human resources' why I can't work anymore.
Lots of growth after the rain, like living in a jungle here!

Ooo what a lot of rain in the night!
As everyone says, it's good for the garden. Most of the veg are in the ground so good timing.
Saw 'The Queen' on dvd last night. Despite Mr A's initial reservations that it wouldn't be interesting, I found myself engrossed in how the other half live. Well, not the other half, more like the priviledged few. Cheri Booth came over as the one who questioned the validity of the monarchy more than anyone else. The amount of money the people pay to keep her and her family in luxury in this day of limited resources for NHS and the welfare state.
I think it's time we became a republic.
Times have changed, the monarchy may travel around on 'good will' visits, but that can be done by anyone with a knack for diplomacy.

Tradition can just be an excuse to keep the inherited rich aristocracy hanging on to the public purse. The House of Lords is a joke, most of them don't have a clue how real life works for many families with a mortgage and kids to pay for. The recent peerages for cash just shows what a corrupt system we've allowed it to become.

So, there, that's my opinion on a cloudy bank holiday monday.
I have the sound of Mr A sawing away outside the window, making new window frames. He is working outside by the side of the house under an erected tarpauline stretched over his area so he can work in the rain. Ah!

Off this afternoon to visit friends who have recently moved from Southern Ireland and still finding their feet here. They were disappointed with some services, the non caring attitude and the length of time on the phone to sort out things. Yes, it's because there are so many people now, all wanting attention and having to queue. We are used to having to press a particular number on the phone these days to select a specific area.
I seem to have gone off on a moan there...whoops, I'll be signing myself 'Disgruntled of Milton Mowbray' next!

Kerist! It's getting a bit chilly, time for another jumper.

DINNER
Roast Wye Valley Chicken
Roast Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts
Organic Carrots

DVD
The Queen with Helen Mirren

WORK
Washing up
Putting washing away
Making bed
Preparing meals
Faffing around with plants
Sorting kindling wood
Stocking wood barrel
Filling coal skuttle

LEISURE
Blogging
Relaxing
Watching DVD, as mentioned above

It's weird to try and compartmentalise the day's activities. Going even deeper and trying to separate out all the different doings of one's life soon pinpoints the guilty areas.
Namely, how much work I actually do. What separates work and leisure if one is unemployed? I do count washing up as work though.
Preparing meals is more like pleasure unless I'm feeling knackered. As Mr A works so hard, I'm happy to keep his energy levels up by feeding him healthy food. I can be a feminist and a housewife!

There is no point to all this, just an idea that has ground to a halt......

I've spent ages trying to activate my subscription thingy, as requested by Purple Dragon. There are no instructions when you get to the contents page on designing your blog, so I'm not sure how to do it. The word 'subscriptions' is either highlighted in yellow, or not, so which one is it to activate it?
Please.

Woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of rain. Thinking that I really should go and rescue the cushions from the swing seat outside. Reality won and I went back to sleep without leaving the bed. It was only a shower so the cushions were dry by morning.
The weather is changing today, a few showers and cloudy cover. Mr A has spent today making more window frames. I've got seedlings to go out but I'm not doing it in the rain! I have sown some more lettuce seeds which are now in the propigator.

The beech trees opposite seem to exploded into leaf overnight, we are now surrounded by The Green.

DINNER
1 Ham and Pineapple Pizza
1 4 cheese Pizza
Salad a la Moi

I noticed that someone had added 'yawnfest' to my tags. Good on you, I say, now, who are you, and if I read your blog, will it be as exciting as you think it is, as you obviously are comparing it to mine and duly leaving your opinion on my profile.
Come on if you think you're tough, or interesting enough! Put your blogname where your cyber mouth is!
I know this is a boring blog - that's the point! Real life is boring, with some interesting bits occasionally cropping up when unexpected things happen.
If you want high seas adventure blog, then go elsewhere to possibly someone younger who thinks going out and getting pissed is the business. This blog 'aint big enough for the 2 of us, and it 'aint me that's gonna leave!
(Checks the 2 holsters in the gun belt, yup, they're still there, not yet smokin')

Scarabella had a great gig last night. It was packed out and we sang an hour's set, quite exhausting with the new all singing, all dancing routines. Next gig we will split it into 2 with a break in the middle. Unfortunately the cd's were forgotten, so we lost a few sales there. A very enthusiastic crowd who seemed to enjoy it, tapping their feet to the vocal rhythmns.

We dress in black with a glittery red scarf usually. This time we ditched the scarf and Brenda made up some turqoise and purple feathers which we wore in our hair a la Moulin Rouge.
Anna wore this fantastic black bell bottomed trousers that are split on the outside of the leg right up to the thigh. Someone asked her where she got them. I answered 'Gap.' I felt like Mr Pooter in 'Diary of a Nobody' when he congratulated himself on making a joke, as several people laughed.

On the way back from shopping I saw a huge queue, luckily in the other direction for bank holiday traffic. There were jet ski's, bikes, caravans, all sorts attached to cars to ensure the holiday weekend wouldn't be boring.

It's nearing Dr Who time, so I'll pay a quick visit to my regulars.

Happy hols everyone!

I'm stuck in a room with a red floor, squares of different symbols, some of them burning. with a barred gate at one end and a pole at the other. Anyone out there know what to do?

DINNER
Lamb Cutlets
Potatoes
Salad a la Moi

Last night we had another barbie, with sausages and mash. Mmmmm.
We had a singing rehersal here and just stayed outside till dark. It felt wonderful to sing to the trees - especially this Pygmy chant that we do to start the set. It is a real belter that grabs the attention! Mr A had a friend staying and they played backgammon outside by gas light. Very Turkish, that playing of board games outside.

Today has been a real scorcher again. The beech trees have leapt into leaf, we are back in the greeness of the forest again.

Reading a book, that was a belated birthday gift from my ex daughter in law, who I stayed in touch with and get on with very well. It is called 'Secrets of the Talking Jaguar.' All about a guy who dreams about this village near Guatamala and ends up there being initiated as a shaman. His teacher comes from a long heritage of shamen in the Mayan tradition fand it is really interesting finding out about their view of the world. The villagers say that they are in the centre of the world. They don't have to go anywhere else because they are home. Nature is very important to them, as is the unseen world of spirits. You get to find out what shamans actually do, with is basically dealing with the crap that comes into peoples lives.

The richness of uninterrupted tradition is something that we lack in this country. This is Beltane today, but probably not many people know that it used to be a strong pagan festival. Don't get me started about what christianity has ruined in other cultures!

Mr A is putting up sticks for the tomatoes, in gro-bags at the front of the house. I've just watered the garden and cold frame, the earth is very dry. The poor Ozzies are in a terrible drought at the moment, not having had rain for a long time. Well, they are under the hole in the ozone layer. They are another country that refused the Kyoto Agreement to reduce their carbon emissions, now look. Let's all yell "Told You So!"