Menu of the Day and Chat

DINNER
Outside reared Pork Chops
Baby Potatoes
Salad a la Moi

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

The cooker arrived this morning and is now working. Hurrah! It's sleek, black and shiny. It even as an automatic igniter button to press to get instant flame without matches.

Today is a scorcher, I seem to sweat mainly from my forehead so that it drips down my nose. My right arm and hand are browner than the left, as that's the side that caught the sun when I was driving. It's quite noticeable, though it's probably only me that notices it.

Gwen still rushes down to the road if anyone walks past. She can't resist going up to strangers, jumping up and down at them and ignoring calls to come back, so she gets carried back by whoever she's chosen to follow. She has to stay in or be chained up outside. Any tips gratefully received on how to get her to come on demand. She does come when she goes up in the garden out of sight when there's no one else around.

I've got 4 walls to strip of wallpaper and a rooting out of any clothes that don't get worn. So there will be a big bag for the charity shops from both of us.

It was a very comfortable sleep last night on the new bed. Mr A is delighted that he can rest his feet on the bed, rather than dangle off the edge on our previous bed. Happy bunnies? Yes!

LAST NIGHTS DINNER
Cauliflower and Cheese Grills
Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sausages
Oven Chips
Salad a la Moi - Consisting of a Lettuce from the Garden

Walnut Dream Ice Cream - Down to my last tub, time to stock up again....

As Mr A is away, the ready meals come out of the freezer. As I bought the Cauliflower Grills and Veggie Sausages for my veggie grandaughters, they had to be used up before they grew a beard....well, that's my reason....

The new bed arrived. It's 6ft 6" long and 5ft wide and 2ft 4" high. I found the instructions on how to put it together after I'd put it together, and discovered that it needed 2 people to do it. There was a lot of cussing and swearing, what with Gwen running round my feet and the castors falling off. Still, it's now taking up nearly all the space in the music room, and a bare mattress in the bedroom looks very forlorn.
I slept well, and not woken up early by Minnie cat for a change. In the bedroom, she stands over the Velux and miaows to be let in after a night out on the tiles. There's no Velux in the music room, and I guess she couldn't see anyone in the bedroom, so waited in silence to be let in.
Gwen is good in the mornings and won't disturb me till I get up.

The new gas cooker is coming on friday. They'll have to leave it outside as the old one is still in place. If it's raining I'll put a tarp over it. There's lots of outside space in which to leave the old cooker till we take it to the tip.
It's coming at the right time, as I cooked

Roast Rack of Lamb
Roast Potatoes
Broccolli (how many c's?)
Roast Onions

Rhubarb Crumble with Walnut Dream Ice Cream

on sunday, and we were sweltering in the heat of the Rayburn as it has to get hot to heat the oven. It was a hot day outside as well. Mr A said the heat was 'doing my head in.'
The Rhubarb leaves are as big as umbrellas, so I picked a few sticks of it and made a crumble of oats, flour butter and sugar.

Watched Britains Got Talent last night and agreed with the 2 acts going through to the final. The 12yr old boy singer does have an amazing voice, full of power and able to sing those 'big' songs and do them justice. He has a career in singing for sure. He goes to the same school as my friend Carol's daughter and knows him. In fact, I think she said that they are in the same class. So there you go, friends in the right places. Stavros Flately, the Greek Irish father and son dancers bring some light relief amongst all the singers. The acts going through are either singers or dancers, so a comedy dance routine stands out and they have a very good chance of winning. They've won the public's heart through the father showering his son with affection, and watching them bond gives everyone that feel good factor. I think that the ventriloquist should have gone through to the final rather than the 17yr old singer, who was good, but it was more for his youth and good looks that he got the 2 judges votes. Then the final would have more variety in it.
It's not on tonight, I think there's footie going on. No doubt Mr A will be watching it in his hotel room, or more like in a pub on a big screen. I'll be watching The Apprentice, which is something I've got to look forward to.

How people (like Mr A,) can listen to cricket on the radio and understand what's going on is beyond me. It interferes with the normal Radio 4 programmes, so I find it hard to get The Archers on our radio and the afternoon play.

So, I've washed my hair, done the outside chores, so it's time for me to go out shopping for tonights dinner. There's still some Rack of Lamb left from sunday, so I might chop it up and make a curry. I can't eat ready meals every night, as it's against my religion.......

Just got back from the beach where I went for a walk with Gwen. She went bananas rushing around as soon as I took her off the lead. She was jumping up at people, ignoring my calls for her to come back. I put her lead on when she did come and walked further off along the beach and let her run free. That was ok, but when I put her back on the lead near the children playing again, she pulled and pulled, wanting to go and play with them.
Some of the children wanted to play with her and thought she was great, joining in. Some kids were too young though and I think she might have frightened them. So, I came back home with a disgraced puppy. I was told by one mum that puppies her age still jump up but when they older they are better behaved.
I hope so.
She's a public menace.

LAST NIGHTS DINNER
Lemon Sole Fillet of Fish
Plaice Sole Fillet of Fish
Rice
Salad without Lettuce. (Couldn't be arsed to go up the garden to get one)

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

I got both fish from Morrisons as it was closing on saturday. There wasn't much fish left, so I grabbed them and put them in the fridge for a day.
Mr A noted that the Plaice is supposed to have bright orange spots, this poor old one had faded rings a muddy brown. With no heads, you couldn't tell, I couldn't tell just how fresh they were.
They weren't.
The Sole was full of awkward bones and the Plaice was dull. The salad composed of Celery, Tomato, Cucumber tossed in Dressing. Ok, but not brill.

Went to an early birthday party for Molly, who will be 16 in June. I arrived a couple of hours early, as I was on my way she texted to say it would start at 6. I'd been told it was to be in the day when they were staying with me. It was nice to get there before the others so we could have a chat. I get on really well with my ex daughter in law, she still feels like family. She has 3 children, the youngest is a boy who is 7 now. She home educates them and they seem to have a pretty full social life, knowing lots of people and a huge extended family. They have lived in caravans or large trucks for many years, in fact, the kids have never lived in a house. They move to Essex in the summer for fruit picking then come back to Wales over winter.
Molly is going to do her Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme later this year. It sounds really good. They have 3 years in which to do it, gaining a Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. She is going to do Kayaking and walking. Since she's been out in her friend's kayak, she's very keen on doing more of it. Eve, who is nearly 13, will do it too. She's more into Kung Fu, which she's been doing for years, so I think she'll go that route.

Yesterday was really hot, summer hot, I had to go indoors after a while for a break from it. I weeded the front garden. It really needed it, totally overgrown with creeping buttercup and montbreecia. I can now see the steps! We have 2 sets of steps leading down to the road. The main ones at the side of the house, which lead right up to the house above ours and another set in front of the house. There's a small path in front of our house and a spiral stairway down to the road in between the hedges. You can't see this from the road, so it's like a secret entrance. I remember when I first hacked away the overgrowth and discovered it when we first moved here. No one knew it was there as it had been hidden for many years.

Yes I'm hooked on Britain's Got Talent and enjoyed the first of the semi finals last night. Susan Boyle has rocketed into the public eye since her first appearance. She's been helped mainly by all the media interest. She still seems refreshingly normal. I loved her answer when she was asked if she was nervous singing in front of millions of people. She said, 'no, why would I be, I love it!' A natural performer who will be lapping it up and has a good chance to win it. The other winner last night was well deserved. Diversions dance group were totally brilliant. They packed so much into their routine, it was spell binding to watch. There's going to be a bit of a fight between them and the other great dance group, Flawless on the night. I think Flawless will get it though.....
So, my predictions are: Susan Boyle to win, closely followed by Aiden, the 11yr old dancer and then Flawless third. I think the guy who delivers pizzas, Jamie will get into the final as will Sean, the fit 17yr old singer.

DINNER
Chilli Con Carne. Chilli n Beef with Red Kidney Beans in a Tomato Sauce
Salad a la Moi

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

Delivery news. The new bed is coming tuesday and the cooker friday. Mr A is away next week, so he won't be here when the cooker arrives, but shouldn't be too much of a problem as he's back friday evening.
The old cooker will be taken out and to the tip, but there's a space left with lots of grease on the sides and floor from lots of frying meals. Sugar soap is the best thing to get rid of grease, it's pretty powerful stuff, and I can't chuck it down my sink as it'll be bad for the septic tank. Does the job though. Now I know it's on it's way, I can't wait for the new bed and cooker.
We decided to put the new bed into the other front room, the music room for now and do out our bedroom. When I say 'do out' it means new floor and wallpaper taken off and repainted. Quite a big job. Mr A put chipboard on the floor as a temporary measure as the old floor was quite rotten.

I bought Gwen 2 rubber toys at Morrisons. It was 2 for the price of one. One was a bright yellow giraffe that squeaked and an orange robust bone. The squeaky toy is now no more. She chewed it to bits, so it wasn't that strong in the first place. The bone is made of thicker rubber and will last. She understands the word 'fetch' now, and acts on it. Smart puppy!

I went into town yesterday and found a brand new coffee grinder in Oxfam. I bought it as a little pressie for Mr A, who likes his coffee. Comparing freshly ground coffee beans with instant coffee is like comparing dishwater, (used) with champagne. The smell, when it's being ground up, instantly takes me back with memories my dad grinding his coffee beans, which he did all his life.
He died at 84, and resorted to an electric grinder in his later years, but he always enjoyed his freshly ground coffee.

My eldest grandaughter is having an early birthday party tomorrow, her 16th. She will be in Bulgaria for her actual birthday on June 21st, which is why the party's tomorrow. One of her home educated friend's parents have a house there, and she went over with them last year and had a great time. So, bathtime tonight and wash n style hair. It's in a bob, easy to style, though it's grown a lot since I had it cut a couple of months ago.
Ooo, the Archers is on.......ta ra.

I know many of you are used to buying things online, and it's probably just another thing that you do. However, I just bought a new gas cooker online, and still feeling the buzz, and very pleased with myself as I don't do it very often.

There's a price comparison website called White Box, which I used to find the cheapest price. Not only does it give you that, but also a discount. So, after much shopping around, I saved myself £50.86 by buying not just the cheapest, but the one that saved me most money.
There's free delivery, plus the 4% discount, so I'm well chuffed.
There were reviews from people who had bought items from various sites. One of them, Piximania, got terrible reviews, though it was the cheapest cooker, so I avoided that.
I bought it from Dixons in the end, at 11pm last night.

I got a call at 9am this morning from them to ask if I was aware that I'd bought an LPG (liquid petroleum gas) cooker, rather than a mains gas cooker? Apparently, most people buying it make a mistake, so she was ringing to make sure that I knew about it. I said that yes, I did want an LPG cooker, to use with bottled gas, and thanked her for ringing me.
On their website, they gave a 8-12 week delivery time, as it comes straight from the manufacturer.
On the phone, she said it could be delivered tomorrow! Whoa! Hold your horses! I'm not quite ready for it yet! Mr A is away till the end of the week, and I want him here when it comes, so we arranged next tuesday for delivery. The cooker is ready to go, no 'kit included' which has to be converted into LPG by a Corgi registered fitter, so Mr A can fix it up himself.

Then Dreams rang, to say my bed is now in stock, and when can they deliver it.
'Next tuesday,' I said, thinking that we might as well be in all day anyway for the cooker, they do give you a 4 hour slot though.
Now, I'm hoping that they don't both arrive at the same time, as there may not be enough space for both lorries to park near the house. They don't know yet that they have to carry the order up some steep steps...

I was also relieved that when I paid by card, as a security precaution, a little box came from my bank, asking a personal question, to make sure that I'm the card holder. I think that's a good scheme, as if my details were known and used by someone else, they wouldn't know the answer to the question, so couldn't use my card.

Now, what else can I buy?

Damn, it's raining again....That means having to dry Gwen puppy when she comes in from outside, as her belly gets wet, having such little legs an' all.

So far, today has gone well. The coalman came, so there's plenty of coal for the Rayburn.
It was nearly out this morning, so I coaxed it, and now it's blazing away, making the house warm and cosy. I have to say (again), how lovely it is to have a real fire, and the investment of £70 on a second hand Rayburn has really paid off.
It did need a new boiler, which was £150, but apart from that, oh and the new stainless steel flue pipes, about another £150, so, in all, under £400 for heat and hot water. O yes, and the plumbing, that was £700, but apart from that.....

I just finished Ruth Rendell's new book, Portobello. Not so much a crime book, more a story with believable characters, good plot and observations which put you in the middle of the story, so it happens all around you.
Her writing makes you become involved with the characters. Her clever use of words drag emotions from the reader, as if you really know the people in the story, and feel an investment in their future. She gives houses in the story the same word weight as her characters.
I remember thinking this in previous books by her, how descriptive the homes were of the people in the story, so you could really picture where they live in your mind.
In Portobello, you get to know some of the characters' inner selves. Those thoughts that don't get shared with others, usually because the thoughts bring up fear.

Menu of the Day hasn't been decided yet. A trip to the shops first, then pick up something for dinner later. I'll be having salad a la Moi with it because there are loads of lettuces ready for eating in the greenhouse.

I've been making the dressing for the salad in a clear jar. That way I can see just how much oil and vinegar ratio there is. It's about a third vinegar to oil. If I don't use walnut oil, then I'll use olive oil and red wine vinegar, or balsamic. Sometimes I add a bit of sweet hot chilli sauce to give it a bite.

Recent Dinners:
Fresh Rainbow Trout, complete with heads and tails. These are really tasty, and as each one is under £2, a cheap meal. After washing and washing them in cold water, to try and get the natural slime off, (doesn't smell,) I coat the outside with flour, so it's easier to handle and fries up a treat into a crisp skin. Mind you, I don't eat the skin, but the cat does.

Welsh Rack of Lamb: This is a Welsh lamb, though it reads like a Welsh rack....
Roasted in the Rayburn with Potatoes and Parsnips. Spinach from the garden and Organic Carrots makes it a completely lovely sunday roast dinner.

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER
2 Eggs from our hens, fried Tomatoes and Potatoes.

You can add Walnut Dream Ice Cream to all of the above as desert.

I still have yet to decide what new cooker to buy. I've emailed questions to 2 companies asking if the cookers are ready to be connected to run on LPG (liquid petroleum gas.) Otherwise known as Calor gas. This is the cheapest way to cook, as the cylinder lasts months and months, though recently gone up to about £15 from £12. You can't buy a normal gas cooker to use with it, they have to either be already fitted, or include an LPG conversion kit. A Corgi registered fitter may or may not be needed, depending on whether there's any fiddling about to do before it's ready to use.

Mr A has gone away to Newcastle for the week, working away. Gwen puppy is missing him already. At the time he usually comes home, 8ish, she starts to look whistfully at the door, and any car slowing, as if it's going to stop gets her attention. She knows his name now, as when he comes home, I say it to her and touch him, so she knows that's who I'm talking about. I can be a bit mean, for amusement, to say to her, 'where's Mark?' when he's not here, and see how she puts her head on the side and cocks her ears up, as if also asking the question. I have to say that she's a good dog, but with a strong personality. In dog years, she's about 3 and a half, so a boisterous toddler is about right. She still chases Minnie cat around, though is learning to keep her face averted to avoid scratches from sharp little claws.

Bloody cat woke me up around 6am this morning. This is because Mr A usually gets up around then and opens the door for her to come in and get a good days napping in. She sits on the Velux and miaws down into the room for someone to get up and let her in. As my normal getting up time is a few hours after Mr A, she got impatient this morning, but gave up after a while, as I wasn't getting up until all sleep had left my mind, and I felt ready to face the day. I think it's because I didn't leave the back door open so she could get to her food, so tonight I'll leave it open and hopefully won't get a repeat of this morning.

I'm enjoying a new author. He used to be a well known stand up comedian, but now is a successful crime novelist. He's written a few in the 'D.I. Thorne' series and I got 3 of his books out. I heard him on radio 4, he was being interviewed. He uses the surnames of other comedians as characters in his books. There Brickstocke, after Marcus Brickstocke, Holland, after Dominic Holland, who I saw live once at a comedy club, he was very, very funny. There's probably a few more that I've not known who they were. So, I thought I'd try him out, and was glad I did.

Chicken News:
They've been inconsistent of late. Some days there's 4 eggs, some days 3, and once, just the 2. As there are 5 of them, there's never been a day since they started laying that we haven't had eggs, so they have got a great track record so far. One of them is still laying gianormous eggs most days. Some days there's a very small egg, like when they first start to lay, so I don't know what's going on with them. If they are spooked at all, then that can put them off laying in the next day or so. It could be an animal stalking them from time to time I guess.

Since I'm on my own this week, I've got to do the chores that Mr A usually does. This doesn't include the nightly slug hunt though. He goes out every night armed with a torch and gets the buggers. By nightfall, especially if it's raining, I don't feel like doing it, and just send a telepathic message to any slugs in the vicinity to 'keep off the plants!'
So, I have to open the windows and vents of the greenhouses, water the plants inside, which includes tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, and lots of seedlings that dry out quickly on a hot day. Since we've had a lot of rain this week so far, I haven't needed to water the outside plants, which are all growing up luvverly.

Scarabella have got the studio booked for 2 weeks time to shoot a video, where we'll mime to one song off the new cd. Unfortunately, one of us can't make the next 2 rehearsals, so just 4 of us will meet next week to go through what we'll sing and how to choreograph ourselves. I asked Carol what song she wanted, as we have to decide which one we'll use. She named 2, so at least she's got some input into the decision making while she's away. On one of those songs, I'm making a sound like a shaker, a 'ch ch' noise, so I don't know if I'll look too silly on video with a fixed grin on my face, as that's how I make the sound. We'll have to see....
I need make up tips on how to hide bags under the eyes. I was born with bags under my eyes, and they've never gone away. I can pile on the make up, as we'll be under lights, does anyone have any idea of what colours to use to try and minimize the bags? Maybe white would help, though I don't fancy a reverse panda look....

Again, I've forgotten all those little moments in the past few days when I've thought, 'oo, I can use that little observation, or event, on my blog, it'll be interesting.'
And what have I ended up with? Ho hum......

DINNER
Brought in pizza x2.
1 Margarita
1 Spicy Chicken. (Yes, I know, it's probably battery chicken. I just didn't think it through.)
Extra Toppings of: Napolian Salami, Capers, Jalepeno Peppers, Onion, extra Cheese.

Salad a la Moi

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

..........and welcome to Marika Sunseeker to the Walnut Dream Club. She recently purchased a tub, and, well, once tasted, there's no going back to any other ice cream. That's it.
It's worth trying in Hot Drinking Chocolate and even coffee. Mmmmmmmmmmmm

What else? Well, I still haven't ordered a Calor Gas Cooker, something I should really have done a couple of days ago, but other things came first, like blogging, oh, and watching telly.

Chicken wise, there's something going on with them. We got down to just 3 eggs last week. There's been an egg for each chicken for ages, then suddenly a couple of them have gone off the boil.
Past few days we're back to 4 eggs. But, I suspect one of them is going broody, as she's been on the nest a lot more than usual. Also, one of them 'assumes the position.' By this, I mean that when I go in the coop, one of them immediately stops, hunches over, head down, wings opened a bit. This is the position they adopt when a randy rooster approaches them for some old fashioned lovin'. So, we'll see. If she does go broody, then we'll do the same as we did before, isolate her and support her in her dream of motherhood.

Still haven't been out on the bike yet. Well, firstly, it's been raining. Then, time just seems to have slipped by and it's dusk again, or it's time to do something more important than wobbling down to the village. I will though. I think I've built it up into a bit of an expedition rather than just a trip to the village as I haven't been cycling for a long time. The barrier is psychological for sure, and I need to get over myself and just do it.....

I got the words for a new song. It's called Sleepless. With memories of those times that I haven't been able to switch off and sleep.

SLEEPLESS

And the night goes on and on,
while my mind keeps turning round,
like a hampster running
on a wheel.

And my eyes are closed
while I'm conscious,
open to a never ending stream,
of nonsense.

Chorus
I'm awake again
till the break of dawn.
I'm sleepless in my bed,
and the thoughts inside my head.
Keep on rolling.

And if I could only
switch off and rest
my weary mind,
and embrace the night within.

And to travel on a dream,
while asleep and resting,
forgetting where I am.
Embracing the quiet
and the still, and the silence.

A.H. 1.5.2009.

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER
Outdoor Reared Pork Chops in Apple and Port Sauce
Baby boiled Potatoes
Salad a la Moi with Greenhouse Lettuce, Feta Cheese, Black Grapes, Green Olives, Red Tomatoes...

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

Mr A enjoys a glass of Port of an evening, so I used a generous portion out of his supplies to go with diced Apple, to make a sauce. It was particularly fine. MMmmmmm.

TONIGHT'S DINNER
Ham and Mushroom Organic Pasta Twirls in a Spicy Tomato Sauce
Salad a la Moi

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

Yes, the ice cream is a regular thing, though I am having small portions. I never used to eat ice cream, it was only till I came across Walnut Dream and discovered what a delight it was that I've been hooked.

Nowt much happening in my corner of Wales. Well, there is if I count nature and the spectacular show that She's putting on. The Forget-me-Nots are still blooming, giving a blue haze over the front flower bed. The Wallflowers are a burnt umber and smoky yellow on long rope-like stalks. Mr A did some weeding and put in some Lobelia at the front to trail over the wall, Cornflowers and Sweet William. Underneath the wild flowers I discovered Pansies and Primulas in flower.
Confession time. I nicked some cuttings of 2 different wall covering flowers. I don't know what they are, but one is pink with a darker pink stripe and the other is a light purple. They are the sort of flowers that grow over walls, I think they are called succulents. I only took a little bit, and it wasn't noticeable, but felt quite guilty and could well be caught on a security camera as it was in a public place where the flower bed was.
So don't tell anyone.

I'm in the process of buying a new Calor gas cooker online. I don't know why, but I get nervous buying online. I definitely prefer seeing what I'm buying in the flesh, or enamel, but Calor gas cookers aren't sold in many shops. We definitely need a new one as the oven doesn't work on our old one, which used to be Mr A's grandparents cooker, which they had lived with for a few decades before we got it.

Gwen puppy took herself off to visit the garage next door. I didn't know she'd even gone before Paul came back with her in his arms. She just wanted to find someone to play with as we were both busy in the garden. Whenever she runs off, which is usually just to next door's garden, she gets put on the lead which is tied to a rope so she can't run off.
She has definite moods. There's 'bitey mood,' 'running in a straight line madly mood,' 'nipping at your ankles and trousers mood,' and 'chase the cat mood.'
Although it can be annoying when she nips at my slippers, it's quite cute too. Trying to lace up shoes can be hard as she goes for the laces, and only stops after the yelling increases in volume to a shout.

I tried to request the new Terry Pratchett Discworld book at the library to be told it wasn't on their system yet. If it's as good as the other Discworld books then I'll buy it. I still read his books when I feel like some light reading, and I think I always will.
Reading Val McDermits 'Hostage to Murder' at the mo. It's ok and refreshing to have a gay hero (sexuality wise, not happy.) Or heroine I should say.
Looking at the Science Fiction section, I notice a lot of them come as a series, which can be as small as 3 or even longer, at which point I disregard them. With the exception of Terry Brooks Trilogy 'The Word and the Void,' I don't feel like taking on a trilogy with an unknown author. Very narrow minded of me, but I tend to stick to authors I know or recommendations.
Talking of books.....I can recommend 'Darkmans.' By Nicola Barker, it's one of the best books I've ever read, in a class of it's own. It's quite a long book, but well worth perservering with.
I read it when I was ill with the Norvo Virus a few months ago, so I remember reading it quite vividly. In between the bouts in the bathroom, it helped keep my mind of feeling so awful. That bug only lasted 24 hours, but I'll always associate that book with being ill, in bed.
Since retiring from work, I haven't had a cold or flu, so it just shows how hospitals spread diseases to staff and patients alike...

I should be looking at gas cookers, as I told Mr A I was going to buy one yesterday, then it was today. Now it will probably be tomorrow, as I need to start cooking soon.

Anyone watch The Apprentice? Some of them are such mardy buggers, argumentative, bossy, and unable to listen to others, and that's just mr sugar! I do enjoy watching a verbal fight and seeing people make arses of themselves, coming up with dreadfully stupid ideas.....

I've missed the Archers and there's only 10 minutes till American Idol is on, so I'd better switch off and get the chopping block, knife and compost bin out. I carry that lot into the front room where the tv is and do my chopping on the table, so I can watch tv at the same time.
As I cook on the Rayburn which is in the same room - I'm sorted.

Ta ra.

DINNER
Free Range Organic Roast Chicken
Roast Spuds
Roast Parsnips
Brocolli
Spinach from t'garden
Gravy Heaven

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

After swearing off chicken for ages, I thought I'd try it again and get a free range, organic one that hopefully will be tastier.
I felt a twinge of guilt for wanting tasty meat coming from a (previously) living animal, as I am kind to animals as a rule. I think I'm a closet vegetarian. Yes, I'll still eat it but try not to think about the life of the chicken before it went for the chop. Mr A is delighted that we're having a sunday roast, it's been ages since we've had one.
Lots of colour from the wild flowers out and about, I love this time of year when nature shines with such glory.

The outside windows have finally been painted. They look great, very carnival colours, vivid orangy peach and sunshine yellow.
Our new neighbour Dave came for a cuppa and we went through the pictures, showing the progress of renovating our house. From a rat infested, rotten wooded, hovel which was a storehouse for 4 different peoples' crap. I'd forgotten how much work it had needed to bring it to habitable standard. With lots of wood needing to be replaced, new roof, windows, doors, floors, it's like a different house. The bathroom had a rotten floor and everything leaked in there, stinking to high heaven. Dave had brought all the deeds to his house to show us the history of it. It was bought for £300 in 1964!
I'm reminded of someone buying a new handle, then a new brush for their broom, still thinking of it as the same broom....

Well, the bike tyres are all pumped full, I've got the helmet, so it's all set up and ready for me to cycle off down to the village. It's a flat run of a mile, so I'll be easing in gently after years of not cycling. We have some very steep hills around here and I'm not expecting to cycle up (and down) any of them in the near future.

I've finished Lynda La Plante's Night Sin, a good read and recommended, in fact I've finished all my library books so am reading Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as light relief till my next visit to get some new books.

Gwen looks like a little fox with her sticking up ears and pointy snout. She shows us again and again that she is really quite a smart little dog with a cheeky personality. She still chases Minnie cat and keeps getting told to leave her alone. It's instinctive, not even a scratched nose will stop her.

Time for a trip to the shops as Mr A wants beer and sugar to make some more homebrew. I would go on my bike, but couldn't carry the shopping as there's no carrier on the back.....also, Spar is a steep hill away....

DINNER
Barbequed Lamb Kebabs
Homemade Spicy Tomato Sauce
Quinoa
Salad a la Moi

Walnut Dream Ice Cream

Molly and Eve, my grandaughters, aged 16 and 13, came for the weekend.
They seemed to take in their stride watching their grandparents trying out beds in 'Dreams'.
Yes, I've splashed out (in monetary terms, not literally) on a new bed. Dreams have a half price sale on, so it was a no brainer. Our current bed is over 20 years old so it's definitely time for a new one.
Molly and Eve both have birthdays in the next couple of months, so I let them choose their presents. Molly chose a black onyx and silver pendant and a purple and black asymmetrical skirt. Eve chose earrings in a heart shape and an amazing red and black skirt. Her skirt had loads of netting and an overcorset. Apparently, she'd spotted the skirt months ago and goes into the shop everytime they are in town and drools over it. I feel really happy to have got them things that they really want. Getting to 16 and 13 is quite a milestone, which deserved extra special presents.

Since I was awarded the ill health retirement pension, I had some money available for buying stuff for the house. Next stop is a new Calor gas cooker, then a shower. The oven on our present cooker doesn't work and we don't have a shower, so it'll make life easier for us with these new things.

Gwen is getting better at coming back when she's called. She still goes into next door's garden if someone is working in there, but at least she comes back now with a call, whistle and a hand clap. She hasn't been trained out of chasing Minnie cat. It's an inherited instinct that she finds hard to control. She is growing into a lovely dog and has a sense of humour! She teases us by fetching a toy that is thrown, and snatching it back before we can pick it up. She'll then place it carefully on a foot, look up in a pleading way, and when the hand goes down to pick it up, she'll grab it and dance away out of reach...

Scarabella had a gig last friday, with the local mayor in attendance. It was in a Rugby club, quite a large hall. We decided to sing nearer to the audience rather than use mics on stage, making it a more intimate gig. During one song, I got a tickle in my throat and had to turn my head away and have a cough. Apart from that, it went well. I got petrol expenses at least as it was for charity.

Enjoyed Lynda La Plantes 'Clear Cut'. It was a gripping thriller and well told. I carried the book with me everywhere and any spare moment I'd stick my head in it and catch up. I'm now reading Tami Hoag's 'Night Sin.' That's good too, a gripping crime novel, written well. I've had a good run lately with books from the library.

The second greenhouse is up! We are now washing 50 large panes of glass for it. Mr A bought the panes cheap as they are second hand and dirty, so need a good scrub. Unlike the other greenhouse, there won't be any decking and we'll grow tomatoes and cucumbers in it.

The front flower garden is looking gorgeous. A haze of blue from the forget-me-nots, orange and yellows from the Wallflowers, yellows from Cowslips and Primroses, deep blue from the Grape Hyacinthe and a few other wild flowers. It won't always look so full of colour, as when these flowers have died, there will be gaps, so I can plant in more. The Broom has started to flower. It has butter yellow flowers and looks like it could sit well in a Japanese Zen garden, as the shape of it is, well, Zen, if you can imagine that....