Be careful what you wish for

 Me - a few years ago ... "I wish it was warmer here in the summer"...

Well, I got my wish.  But I really should have qualified just how high I wanted the thermometer to go!  Oh boy it's been hot here. So hot that my friend who lives in Florida sent me a message to make sure we were all ok here.  On the day that she sent her message we had much higher temperatures than she did. We had a week of cooler, more comfortable days but the forecast is for the heatwave to return this week.

So on the hottest weekend of the year, my fridge freezer decided that it was time to call it a day.  It could not hold its temperature and I didn't trust it to keep as cold as it should. At first I put it down to the heat but then we wondered how old it was. We definitely had it already when we had our kitchen replaced and that was 10 years ago, then I found the instruction manual in a cupboard and I had written the date of purchase on it.  2010.  That makes it 16 years old and we have probably had our money's worth out of it. So last week involved online research and a couple of trips to stores to make a final decision.  The new one arrives this week so I just have to hope that the existing one limps along until then.  

This all happened after we had put in an order for a new bed mattress so it has been an expensive month already and it's still only the first week!  

Have I finished that crochet top?  Don't be silly!  It's been too hot to have crochet on your lap (my excuse) but I did do some at Knit and Natter.  I think I just have one more row of the bottom ribbing to do and then twenty million ends to weave in!

I became irresistible to some evil bitey insects last weekend.  The bites were SO annoying.  One was behind my knee and it was impossible not to aggravate it as I walked during the day not to mention wearing leggings for my zumba class.  There were a couple of nights when I found myself making a cold wet flannel to lay over it while I tried to get to sleep.  I don't want to tempt fate but ... they seem to have gone.  We went to friends for a meal on Saturday and I just knew that we would be sitting outside as it was a glorious evening.  I wore long flowing cotton trousers and a lot of insect repellent (probably overpowered my perfume!) and I came home unscathed!

We went for a lovely long walk on Saturday.  Even though it was sunny we were able to find shade along the way.  I feel lucky to have such countryside so close to our home.  

Does anyone have ideas for tasty, easy and light summer meals that I can do for a change?  I feel like we are in a rut and I'm fed up with the salads that I tend to make.  Every day I dread the 'What are we having for dinner tonight?' questions!  Tomorrow is crab linguine and we always seem to have teriyaki salmon on a Tuesday but any suggestions for Wednesday onwards will be gratefully received!

Have a good week x

A new image

 The last couple of times I have been to the hairdressers I have tentatively mentioned that I wondered if it is time to embrace the natural colour in my hair.  All last remaining auburn tones have long gone and I have to admit that my colour is now … predominantly grey. I haven't had an all over colour in my hair for many a year now and tend to have some coloured lowlights put through it.  So we decided to make the lowlights fairer and I've been having less of them and as I looked in the mirror of the salon and we had the 'what are we doing today? conversation, I thought 'now's the time'. So as a transition plan I had my hair cut quite a bit shorter and had blonde highlights run through it followed by a toner treatment.  I wasn't sure about it at first but I don't think I've ever had so many compliments about my hair!  I'm pleased I went for it and will be even more pleased when I get to the point of not having any dye/beach put though it and effectively halve the cost of the appointment when I only need a cut rather than a cut and colour!

Have you watched the BBC drama Mother of All Cons? It's a true story that had us both engrossed.  Oh my goodness.  I won't spoil it by divulging the outcome but what the mother did was unbelievable.  Of course our normal tv schedules are  being affected by the football World Cup but thankfully a lot of the games are on quite late at night due to the time difference so we are still getting to see most of our normal viewing.  I've also started watching Love Story - John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette.  I don't know too much about the storyline but I've enjoyed the first episode and hope that it will be good.

Last weekend we went into town and walked around the main town park, Castle Gardens.  Way back in history, pre 1066, there was a castle here called Waytemore Castle and there are still some remains in the park.  But in the 45 years I have lived here, I have never climbed the steps to the top to see the view over the town so we ventured up there and enjoyed the views over the whole of the town. 

I am close to finishing my crochet top that I have been making for far too long!  I am determined to get it finished now otherwise the summer will be over and it won't be warm enough to wear!  Here's an update and whilst it looks wearable I can assure you that there are hundreds of ends on the inside that need weaving in before I can wear it out in public!

You can see a couple of ends have escaped and found their way into the photo! I am determined to get this finished soon, but then comes the question - what next?

Farewell to May

 Well, May certainly went out on a high!  High temperatures that is.  We have officially had a heatwave this last week.  Temperatures hit the 30s and whilst we love to see the sun, we also desperately seek the shade once the temperature goes up too high!  You can imagine that our newly installed solar panels have been very useful - I don't think we've used any electricity from the grid since they were installed and have even exported power each day when our battery was full.  

We tried out to a new Indian restaurant on Friday evening and went back to our friends' house afterwards for coffee and it was so lovely to be sitting out in the garden until it became dark.

Our knit and natter group had met earlier in the day and we also sat outside from 11 - 3 although I did nab a seat in the shade.  Somewhere between these two outdoor events I managed to become a target to some kind of biting insect and have spent the weekend trying (unsuccessfully) not to scratch a nasty bite on my ankle. 

Yesterday my zumba instructor organised a walk and picnic in Hatfield Forest.  It is about 20 minutes drive from where we live and is a beautiful place to spend a sunny day.  It's now owned by the National Trust but was originally owned by King Harold. Some of the trees are over 1000 years old.  It became a royal hunting forest around 1100 and has over 3500 species of wildlife.  Some of the huge rare breed cows that roam around are a bit intimidating but I found this little family particularly cute!

After a walk around the lake we got out our picnic chairs and had lunch together under a large tree in the shade.  Adri had arranged for a guitarist to come and play for us and it really was a lovely, relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

So, June has begun in a similar heat although it isn't forecast to last much longer. Schools are back after their May half term week off and normal routines will now resume.  I have had a message to say that the balance is due on our flights to Portugal which much mean it is just over six weeks until we go 😎

Do you have holiday plans for the summer?  

Peony picking

 One of the best parts of this time of year is the abundance of flowers appearing in the garden.  The spring bulbs have died down and the borders are gradually showing signs of colour. The weigela in our garden is particularly beautiful this year.  It seems to be one of those shrubs that gets bigger and better the longer you have it.  

The television is full of programmes about the Chelsea Flower Show and you realise how much time and effort goes into ensuring the plants are at their peak at exactly the right time.  Not that I am comparing my garden with the Chelsea Flower Show!

Yesterday we popped over to a Flower Farm for a walk amongst the blooms.  They are a 'pick your own' farm, specialising in peonies, one of my favourite flowers.  I couldn't resist picking some to bring home, hopefully we chose buds which will open out beautifully as the days unfold.  One is showing its colours beautifully already.

As much as I loved the peonies, I was so pleased to see that they were also picking ranunculus.  These are such gorgeous plants and I am thrilled with the bunch we picked.

I tried growing them from bulbs one year but after much anticipation, the slugs got to enjoy them before I did.

Now, apparently the weather here is about to change for the better.  Mid to high 20s in the next few days 😎  If you're looking for me, you may find me in the garden!

What happened to April?

 I am the epitome of a bad blogger!  I read other people's blogs, fully intending to leave a comment when I have more time and then fail to return, or write a post of my own.  A school report would definitely say 'must try harder'!

So let me entice you back to my blog with a little taste of where I went at the end of April.  Benvenuto in Italia!  I had a city break to Venice.  It was absolutely magical and I would say to anyone that has the chance to go, that they must get on that plane/train/boat and visit.  What a beautiful city

We were transferred from the airport by Vaporetta which was a little scary at first as the water was pretty choppy around the airport but as we reached the lagoon and found ourselves sailing down the Grand Canal, it was eye wateringly beautiful.

The quirkiest place we visited was what is advertised as the most beautiful book shop in the world.  Acqua Alta.  Maybe not the most beautiful, but definitely unique!  At the rear of the shop are piles of old books which have been damaged by floods which have been built to make steps.  The books are displayed in imaginative ways; the central display is in an old gondola.

Since we came home we have had solar panels fitted to our roof.  It was my husband's project, he is very environmentally aware and keen to do all he can to help minimise our carbon footprint.  Bearing in mind that we live in a part of the world which is not known for a sunny climate I did wonder how effective they would be but I am amazed by how much solar energy we are capturing.   In the last two days we have not had to draw any electricity from the grid, it is all being generated by the panels.  It does make you very aware of how many electrical products you use on a daily basis!  

Right, time for me to pop and visit a few blogs that I’ve neglected to visit in the last few weeks.

Ciao!

Time is 'March'-ing on

 Oh goodness me, where is the time going?  I cannot believe it is a month since my last blog post.  Seems it is true that as you get older, time passes more quickly.  Yes, I have had a birthday since we last met.  Sixty eight sounds suspiciously close to seventy doesn't it?!!

We had a really nice family lunch at Pizza Express with all the family.  I hadn't been there for years and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed their goats cheese and caramelised onion pizza!  We chose somewhere casual that caters well for children and everyone had a good time.

For Christmas our son and daughter in law gave us a 'voucher' for a restaurant in Cambridge.  I say voucher, but in fact it was five gold coins to use against the cost of the meal.  Each coin is worth £10. 

It's such an original idea isn't it?  Our bill came to £53.50 so we didn't have to contribute much towards it at all.  It was a lovely meal too, Indian inspired but not your traditional curry and rice.  

For every meal they sell, they donate one to a children via two charities.  So if you come across a Dishoom Permit Room restaurant, give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

So this month I have read three books.  The first was the book club choice

What a lovely story!  Jenny Quinn is keeping a rather large secret from her friends and family - she has been accepted as a contestant on Britain's most popular cooking show.  As the show progresses, Jenny's backstory is gradually revealed and it turns out, this is not the first secret she had kept from her husband.  

If you want a nice, easy to read story, along with inspiration for delicious bakes, this is the book for you!

Next is a book that my son gave me as part of my birthday present.

I like it when other people suggest books for me, as it takes me away from those titles I would automatically gravitate towards.  This book was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize.  It is set in the Netherlands in 1961.  Isabel lives alone in the house where she has lived since childhood.  She has become almost a recluse and lives a very ordered life, exactly as she has since her mother died.  Her brother Louis asks that she allows his girlfriend Eva to stay with her while he goes away for work.  Isabel is not happy at any disruption to her routine so is initially not very welcoming and treats Eva with much suspicion.  In an unexpected twist Isabel and Eva form a romantic relationship.  But Eva is not who Isabel believed her to be.  The themes of obsession and revenge ensure that there is quite a twist to the tale.

So onto something quite different again!  

The internet is full of podcasts nowadays and this story introduces us to Joy and Benny, the hosts of a comedy podcast where they lightheartedly discuss near death situations and how you may survive them.  All is going well, they are at the top of the charts and taking the podcast on the road to sell out audiences, but then Joy and her husband Xander disappear and Benny is accused of her murder.  

I really enjoyed this book.  Things were definitely not as they seemed and all characters were under my suspicion as I read further into the book! The evidence against Benny is not looking good but then the next chapter will delve into Joy's memoirs and you realise that her life is not as happy and easy as her husband would want you to think.  

This has a good storyline and I wasn't able to guess the complexity of what really happened at all.  I really enjoyed it.

It sounds as if I have spent the month either eating or reading, let's check it out 1 Second Everyday.

The shortest month, which seemed to last a long time!

 February may only last 28 days but it seemed to go on forever!  It has been eventful and not always in a good way.

We are having a full on decluttering of the house and when I say 'we' I probably should say mostly Paul. It's not just a matter of spring cleaning, it's kind of been forced upon us as we have our daughter and children coming to live with us when their house sale finalises. I won't go into details but their family situation is changing and they will be living with us until she manages to find a new home for the three of them.  Our main priority is to make sure the children feel as supported and loved as possible.  They have always seen our home as their second home so I hope the transition won't be too traumatic for them.  But can you imagine how much 'stuff' we are having to find room for?  

Our daughter was kindly given three tickets for a Spurs home game by someone who has a season ticket and wasn't going to use them.  They were gratefully snapped up by Leo, our son, and Paul.  They were fantastic seats and although the match ended as a draw, they were seated behind the goal and saw all four of the goals with a birds eye view.  

I had thought that I had a week free of childcare during the half term but events conspired against that happening and one one day I found myself taxiing our son and his children to meet our daughter and hers at a trampoline park.  After an hour of watching boisterous children screaming with joy, bouncing all over the place we enjoyed a trip to McDonalds.  Not the day that I had planned but is was lovely to see all the children having so much fun!

Of course we had to have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (why do I never think to make them at other times of the year?) and the countdown to Easter begins.  

I have a new crochet project which is keeping me busy.  One of the benefits of joining the 'knit and natter' group is that it encourages me to keep crafting.  I need to make 40 granny squares to sew together to make a cap sleeved top for the summer.  Ten down, and thirty to go!

My sister has had an accident.  She slipped off a kerb stone, fell awkwardly on her side and has completely shattered her thigh bone from hip to knee.  She's in so much pain and has had to have a titanium plate screwed in to hold the bone together.  I think it is going to be a long road to recovery. 

I've only read one book this month.  My Friends by Fredrik Backman

It's the story of a painting.  A view of the sea with a three children playing at the end of a pier.  In a random sequence of events, the artist meets 17 year old Louisa outside an auction where the painting will sell for a large amount of money.  

Soon after, Louisa becomes the owner of the painter and by meeting Ted, one of the children depicted on the pier, she learns the story of the deep friendship of the children, all with difficult home lives, who cling to each other to negotiate their teenage years.

It is touching and poignant. Happy and sad.  It has all the same emotions as his previous book ‘A Man Called Ove’ I would recommend you try it.

So that is it for this month, let's check it out, 1 Second Everyday