tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75239472630635874152024-03-13T20:03:05.918+00:00Trish Wish Living Well in RetirementTrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.comBlogger808125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-45367187379043628522021-06-19T17:51:00.001+01:002021-06-19T17:51:00.202+01:00An intriguing book<p>Readers of my blog will know I love an unsual book. This is a crime mystery with a difference and is beautifully written. </p><p><i> T<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; max-height: 1e+06px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">he Earth Hums in B Flat</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, Times New Roman, Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> is a story of dark family secrets unravelled by the shrewd insight of twelve-year-old Gwenni Morgan, a child with an irrepressible spirit living in a Welsh village that is reluctantly entering the modern age. </span></span></span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N0jVtJ-m7BY/YMzPMMGM6TI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/MhhsVq1Au_UqLQbWPpqhhh-tp5Qy3eMPACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="340" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N0jVtJ-m7BY/YMzPMMGM6TI/AAAAAAAAD0Q/MhhsVq1Au_UqLQbWPpqhhh-tp5Qy3eMPACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="160" /></a></div><br />I worked out the village setting must be just north of Barmouth and although at first the village sounded very like "the Valleys" (anyone who every watched TV's <i>Stella </i>would recognise the community) it is a coastal setting.<p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, Times New Roman, Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">I loved it. So unusual and says a lot about post war Wales. Recognizable in the 1980s when I lived there. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #454441; font-family: adobe-caslon-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, Baskerville, Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-74894785091746329862021-06-18T15:49:00.002+01:002021-06-18T15:49:38.379+01:00Train journey in Covid times<p> Last week we decided to accept all he risks and go to see family to the south of London by train. We planned it carefully.</p><p>Went mid morning to a avoid any rush hour.</p><p>Worked out a route to change at less busy stations and NOT go through King's Crosss\St Pancarus. Just stepped across from one platform to another at Cambridge and Herne Hill and stayed on same platform at Farrington. No stairs to climb and no hand rails to touch.</p><p>Moved right down the platforms away from entrances. Helped by improvement to trains with more carriages. Only 10 or 15 minutes wait each time.</p><p>Wore a series of masks. Changing twice as they got damp in the hot weather. Only counted 6 non masks wearers all day.</p><p>Everything was clean but we did hand stuff several times.</p><p>All in all it was not too bad. Did not take much longer than the fastest route. It was lovely to see family and be somewhere different and at last get to form a "bubble" - theirs and ours only one in a year!</p><p>We spent a lot of time walking their rescue dog. One evening we discovered <b>stink pipes</b> in a near by road!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Anf2wbhUN0Q/YMyuGVUC70I/AAAAAAAADz0/vlKPCGrdkc4WtU4Uz-0zvz39nK2qbLphQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="875" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Anf2wbhUN0Q/YMyuGVUC70I/AAAAAAAADz0/vlKPCGrdkc4WtU4Uz-0zvz39nK2qbLphQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div>Photo from https://londonist.com/ Which gives the history of these relics of the first organised sewer system in London created by the wonderfully named Victorian Bazalgette Amazing how Victorians made everything they created elegant and well designed even the vents to underground drains!<p></p><p>Next day while walking the dog along the River Medway the history lesson continued when a hovercraft raced up the beach. Grandson was fascinated and the kind man explained how it worked to him. He was incredulous when I explained it was invented near to where I was brought up and I remember the early demonstrations by the inventor on TV. Next day Grandson built a very accurate lego model by himself. Very impressive as he was able to explain all the engine configuration to Grandad, who missed it 'cause he had wandered off in search of a loo!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fyfMe0MQsD8/YMyvb9HtI4I/AAAAAAAAD0A/UzKX2VlEQlILWxuRpUAXpq1VKQgO4PnywCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="190" height="212" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fyfMe0MQsD8/YMyvb9HtI4I/AAAAAAAAD0A/UzKX2VlEQlILWxuRpUAXpq1VKQgO4PnywCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we have come home we found out we probably walked past the early home of Enid Blyton on our strolls with the dog of an evening. So <b>Elfin Cottage</b> is on our list of places to find when we visit again! Never mind current PC politics about "cancelling" her writing - as far as I am concerned Log Live Famous Five!!! It was a big part of my early reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Taking Grandson to his very posh school on our last morning I noticed on the long complex drive the lovely buildings in/near Penge - <b>Waterman's Squar</b>e. Questioning son on whether this was Alms houses got little information but I found out later some of the grounds are public gardens so that may be another bit of history for us too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JmF7W5wonHQ/YMyxLqZvb-I/AAAAAAAAD0I/6A33SFE0Lv0SRnmNILPewGJtKnhyMh0XwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="179" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JmF7W5wonHQ/YMyxLqZvb-I/AAAAAAAAD0I/6A33SFE0Lv0SRnmNILPewGJtKnhyMh0XwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #3f4041; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> Royal Free Watermen and Lightermen's Almshouses, founded in 1839 for retired Watermen and their wives and widows. Considering the life of a waterman on the Thames in 1800s having such a beautiful building and grounds in old age must have been wonderful. Of course long sold off (remaining pensioners sent to Hastings) and now totally unaffordable housing!!!</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3f4041; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #3f4041; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-7353221873039987952021-06-15T20:37:00.000+01:002021-06-15T20:37:24.586+01:00A day of definitely first world problems<p> Had to carefully check that yet another hot day would be windless or if anything stirred it would be northerly otherwise one flap of the sheets would wipe out the 7 foot high delphiniums that have grown to close to the path.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzryVRPL8aA/YMj-DJD6a0I/AAAAAAAADyM/RdDzmURgUSYRDJ1KrgLsSNgWKzja1HVHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20210615_164705_3CS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VzryVRPL8aA/YMj-DJD6a0I/AAAAAAAADyM/RdDzmURgUSYRDJ1KrgLsSNgWKzja1HVHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210615_164705_3CS.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My husband fed this bed with gromore this spring and the continuous May rains has made everything grow magnificently.</div><br /><p>Second problem of the day was how to cook more cauliflower. The problem with grow your own can be gluts. Last week it was 8 broccoli. This week it was in 6 cauliflower. Quick G9oogle gave me an idea for cauliflower and potato curry with boiled eggs. Yummy and filling lunch. And a change from cauliflower cheese. Much needed after a morning of grass cutting over our acre back garden. Think I have sun burn on the back of my neck!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGzddx4V5zg/YMkAV929LDI/AAAAAAAADzA/UGMAfA2ec6U5OqOkUCVIIU8kWvyH0rAswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20210615_131118_1CS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGzddx4V5zg/YMkAV929LDI/AAAAAAAADzA/UGMAfA2ec6U5OqOkUCVIIU8kWvyH0rAswCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210615_131118_1CS.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-50309517910323720532021-05-24T16:09:00.001+01:002021-05-24T16:09:52.908+01:00Different reading matter<p> I have been a terrible blogger lately. My apologies. I have just lost a lot of enthusiasm for life lately. I have tried to keep busy and try new things.</p><p>A couple of new authors from ebooks on our library service have mixed cooking with detecting! Yeah! Gentle crime for a change!</p><p>This one features Tannie Maria and is set in South Africa. I have no idea what she was cooking but it all sounded delicious and her descriptions of the Veldt were fantastic. Very like the famous No 1 Detective Agency series. </p><h1 class="a-spacing-none a-text-normal" id="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span class="a-size-extra-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> </span><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fbN-PHzROb8/YKu_isWW1BI/AAAAAAAADv4/XMhD2cg3uAYomv83UT7uFW9NPBuI2f6bwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fbN-PHzROb8/YKu_isWW1BI/AAAAAAAADv4/XMhD2cg3uAYomv83UT7uFW9NPBuI2f6bwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="158" /></a></h1><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br />The other one is a cake and chocolate cook and writer in Weston Super Mare/Somerset. An area I am familiar with so was interested in her settings. Cakes sounded nice too!</span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CjjWT_gTkpk/YKvAzK8D83I/AAAAAAAADwA/wqyu-uhXHIEp2LNjfp81Ee0wEoag27uSwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="177" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CjjWT_gTkpk/YKvAzK8D83I/AAAAAAAADwA/wqyu-uhXHIEp2LNjfp81Ee0wEoag27uSwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="159" /></a></div><br />Not a lot of time for reading next week as BBC Springwatch is starting and it is based locally. If I lean out the bedroom window with good binoculars I can just about make out the hill - if it is not raining! </span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Spotted my first swallow in the garden this morning. Just before a big black cloud thundered and issued forth a biblical deluge. </span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="a-size-extra-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-16481044434730221922021-04-29T10:22:00.001+01:002021-04-29T10:22:24.469+01:00Learning new sewing related stuff<p> We have all been exhorted during the lockdown to learn new things to keep our brains active. My husband and I often note the things we have learnt during a day. Yesterday it was on Sewing Bee that wearing of woollen caps by the working classes was a law brought in by Elizabeth 1 to protect the woollen industry. Well, I did not know that!</p><p>What else did I learn yesterday? I am not as technological a duffer as I thought. I downloaded a printer driver to my computer and resolved a two <b>year </b>problem with printing!!! Yeah!!! </p><p>What did I print? A free sewing pattern for a ladies overall for gardening. What else did I learn from the notes given lovely Australian designer? <i>(In to the Folds/Peppermint Magazine</i>) How to change the settings of Adobe Printer to have layers and then turn off the lines for the unwanted sizes so the pattern you printed out was just my size and not have 12 other sets of lines to confuse you. Saves ink too.</p><p><br /></p><p>As they say,<b> <span style="color: #ff00fe;">Everyday is a learning Day.</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p> (Even when you have a 2nd Covid jab headache)</p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-89509766195185124862021-04-23T10:18:00.003+01:002021-04-23T10:18:48.704+01:00Peppermint oil for pest control<p> Been having a running battle last few dry weeks here with ants invading the house. Honestly I think the house must be completely undermined by the mini tunnelling activities. I then read about peppermint oil on cotton wool balls distracting mice from eating your pea seeds. Looking it up it also said it worked on insects too. Here's just one article - https://www.biome.com.au/blog/natural-pest-control-peppermint-oil/</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qGC3Fll26Zc/YIKPR5gUG4I/AAAAAAAADvg/UNnBWE-86J8B5ytjezOdTwrkgrIjN3wRwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qGC3Fll26Zc/YIKPR5gUG4I/AAAAAAAADvg/UNnBWE-86J8B5ytjezOdTwrkgrIjN3wRwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I could not get neat oil from my supermarket (not been out shopping anywhere YET) so got some extract/essence in the next delivery. Wacked a strong dose with some water in a sprayer and set about misting all round the outside, around our external oil boiler (which they love to nest in), inside the conservatory and back hallway. Seems to be working!!!! Not sure about the potential smell if I have to come into living spaces but its not so bad. </p><p>Need to get some peas in soon so will try out the cotton wool balls when I plant those. Definitely going to buy some mint plants on next garden centre foray. Strangely the old mint that used to invade one of the flower beds seems to have disappeared during recent hedge renovation. Both, usually cant get rid of it! Sounds like it is easy to make your own oil by emersion of leaves in veg oil. </p><p>Cheaper and better than the powdery spray things we have had knocking about in the shed!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-61771009708850532982021-04-18T22:36:00.003+01:002021-04-18T22:36:36.131+01:00Changing settings.<p> No, not been out anywhere I have just discovered how to do something on this digital Fusion thing. For months I have been plagued by these pop up news headlines from The Sun newspaper on line. And honestly it has depressed the hell out of me. Murder, stabbings, arson, beatings, road rage, breaking Covid rules, on and on. Occasionally there was an interesting bit and I must have pressed something to start it off but I could not get rid of this feed.</p><p>Finally fully in the dumps and feeling very down I stabbed a finger on the headline and a thing appeared like a switch to turn it off. Hurrah! A sense of balance restored or perhaps I just like hiding from reality. </p><p>Now, if only I can work the same magic on these Radio Times alerts that started this week. What did I do to get notifications on endless dross and repeats? The only thing I looked up was times of the Sewing Bee.</p><p><br /></p><p> Algorithms, my IT son tells me. Predicts your interests. Well it must think I am a very weird person!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-90738013596395393972021-04-08T12:56:00.001+01:002021-04-08T12:56:00.445+01:00Should have called him (Un)Lucky!<p> Family in south London got a rescue dog over the Lockdown. Quite old and infirm, reject at least twice and returned to Battersea Dogs Home, nearly adopted by him off the tele (ITV programme? which I can never remember name of celeb or programme as not a dog person myself or a lover of Celeb types!). </p><p>They re named him Rocky cause he rocks and rolls with stiffness when he walks. Last weekend he was attacked by two out of control Pitbull-type dogs in the local park. Very expensive vet bills followed by a bank holiday of care.</p><p>Honestly never mind Rocky, should have called him Lucky!! or UnLucky?</p><p>Family did not share the details of their incident as they were too upset. After seeing TV footage of that dog attacking the seal on the Thames I am absolutely sure I would have not been able to do a thing if I had been there. What a scare. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-2113093699843488072021-04-07T14:56:00.004+01:002021-04-07T14:56:51.137+01:00Rhubarb<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too much early rhubarb! After 3 crumbles in two weeks we needed some new recipes. Rhubarb Syllabub from BBC Food web site. (Minus the wine). Stewed the rhubarb with "lazy" paste ginger and castor sugar and made the mix of mascarpone and double cream with icing sugar. Topped with pistachio nuts. Small glass was more than enough of this yummy mix.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibOsIr7xIQU/YG25-susO5I/AAAAAAAADvE/3WZaBJY7r2sD9KjCMkaxJKmZJiU6WWRhACLcBGAsYHQ/s3367/IMG_5453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3367" data-original-width="2909" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibOsIr7xIQU/YG25-susO5I/AAAAAAAADvE/3WZaBJY7r2sD9KjCMkaxJKmZJiU6WWRhACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5453.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-77450566211467015072021-03-16T14:56:00.006+00:002021-03-16T14:56:53.778+00:00Biodegradable tea bags<p> When the tea arrived in the on line shopping the other day I did not take too much notice of the packaging only that it was a substitute for whatever box I had ordered. Within days of opening it I was tearing my hair out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jp06GPD4BCM/YFDEGZFttWI/AAAAAAAADug/gmWL0ba7XhctAmVtl90EGoYbaPyPkDhiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jp06GPD4BCM/YFDEGZFttWI/AAAAAAAADug/gmWL0ba7XhctAmVtl90EGoYbaPyPkDhiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bag after bag exploded in the cups. Mug after mug of tea leaf strewn drink was going down the sink. Lockdown mind losing? Lost ability to make tea? In a petulant frame of mind (or generally p'eed off) I searched the box for a link to the complaints department.<p></p><p>Yes. Apparently I can't make tea. Who knew after 60 odd years of putting the kettle on? </p><p>I don't like strong tea so for years and years the habit at home (and work) was to dip the tea bag and whip to a second cup with a few stirs the bag gave a decent second cup. No longer. Now we are "biodegradable" (ie now plastic based glue which is good) the given method apparently is to gently pour on the water and leave to soak. Using one bag per cup. It works, but is costing twice as much in tea bags (or less in wasted mugs of spoiled tea).</p><p>You can't order from my usual supermarket any other kind of tea bag in this my preferred black tea blend (I am sure that others are available elsewhere) and I am sure its good for the planet/us not to have the micro plastic glue but I do feel stupid and annoyed in equal measures.</p><p>When we can do more things (one day) I would love to do the guided walk round London to all the old tea traders and warehouses. I heard about it on the radio some time ago and was fascinated by how tea is so embedded in UK history and buildings apparently.</p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-18814481473078629242021-03-10T11:07:00.001+00:002021-03-10T11:07:07.925+00:00Summer thinking<p> I was laying in bed dreaming of summer days earlier in the week (when there was a hint of sun, unlike today's heavy rain) and was running through my summer wardrobe plans. I had decided I needed to get back into skirts. I have not worn anything but jeans for 18 months (?). </p><p>Thinking through the existing clothes I have a Mother of the groom dress (7 years old) and a date nice dress (2 years old). And this cotton dress I made about 8 years ago and probably not worn more than a dozen times. No other skirts at all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws8_pd2Nqyk/YEimGdlzeeI/AAAAAAAADt8/j4YHhnF9zTUgSSevr2Ci8dnvC9_JAtTjACLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws8_pd2Nqyk/YEimGdlzeeI/AAAAAAAADt8/j4YHhnF9zTUgSSevr2Ci8dnvC9_JAtTjACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I love the material but the collar never really set well and felt uncomfortable. I have taken into my sewing room and decided that it has to earn its keep or its a waste of space!</p><p>I took off the collar and reused most of the facings to reform the V neck line. I had to re cut one facing (from the discarded collar) . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CleMO0uXlxA/YEimoHQ7YdI/AAAAAAAADuI/9elRhDRwfm8MlAtJDD1d6BcgabyIE42eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CleMO0uXlxA/YEimoHQ7YdI/AAAAAAAADuI/9elRhDRwfm8MlAtJDD1d6BcgabyIE42eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQlgTPfdMXo/YEimoZ9R7xI/AAAAAAAADuM/zryasg_ifvo06ppQxUMT3Hxo8W9eu6lCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQlgTPfdMXo/YEimoZ9R7xI/AAAAAAAADuM/zryasg_ifvo06ppQxUMT3Hxo8W9eu6lCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I have sewn a line of top stitching in yellow outside the black tacks.<br /><br /><div>I fiddled about for a while wondering if it was too far down. I really hate being older and having a wrinkly front (Known in our house as the Deidre Barlow look after a certain soap character's neckline) and I have cut a "fill" or modesty piece. Not put in yet. I am going to wear and see how I feel.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BW2m4nHbvpI/YEinJhrEfCI/AAAAAAAADuY/UIVBD-XZCWgavjxb7tiNsO9HZh7rAZBMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BW2m4nHbvpI/YEinJhrEfCI/AAAAAAAADuY/UIVBD-XZCWgavjxb7tiNsO9HZh7rAZBMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Meanwhile the dress is in the laundry basket for a quick re fresh ready for the season. When it stops raining as indoor drying is not my thing - all washing has to go out even for just an hour or two.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another tasks ticked off the what shall I do with my lockdown day list and another day when cleaning behind the kitchen stove is avoided.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-41131985739626172332021-03-03T15:37:00.001+00:002021-03-03T15:37:01.425+00:00Feel like a run down watch<p> Anyone else in the doldrums at the moment? Feel like an old fashioned wind up watch that needs a new spring at present. </p><p>Can't find the energy to rant at politics, injustice or bad business.</p><p>Can't concentrate on any TV offerings.</p><p>Can't quite believe in the dates of the Get out of Lockdown Road Map. Feels more like a bad game of Monopoly when I have no cards, no money, no houses elsewhere and the where the Go to Jail card is about to be played.</p><p>Can't get warm. One day of spring temperatures then back to damp cold.</p><p>Right that enough self pity. I shall share some pretty it is nearly Spring pictures and grow a backbone!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvTJJxcQWlE/YD5dC_3GXmI/AAAAAAAADtQ/clcc7Y6iPP8MTdEpMUkx67uld_TTvSomwCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvTJJxcQWlE/YD5dC_3GXmI/AAAAAAAADtQ/clcc7Y6iPP8MTdEpMUkx67uld_TTvSomwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last of the sprouts picked and eaten</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_uv4HzfH1Y/YD5dGF-Yd_I/AAAAAAAADtU/r0IwogqqmOI7bCBsx762aHTrGYn-rVYfACLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_uv4HzfH1Y/YD5dGF-Yd_I/AAAAAAAADtU/r0IwogqqmOI7bCBsx762aHTrGYn-rVYfACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plant some nice fresh broad beans instead</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ALH2ueH2l0k/YD5dLaMWo4I/AAAAAAAADtc/vWQmgILK8mUopGN-mPzyCvmv3yhjD0cbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ALH2ueH2l0k/YD5dLaMWo4I/AAAAAAAADtc/vWQmgILK8mUopGN-mPzyCvmv3yhjD0cbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5431.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoy the spring flowers especially the primroses</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAUkYaJUZCc/YD5dLR7j8wI/AAAAAAAADtY/odQG2snKuhYZsIGqgW9hi3bqjV10CYSMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAUkYaJUZCc/YD5dLR7j8wI/AAAAAAAADtY/odQG2snKuhYZsIGqgW9hi3bqjV10CYSMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take on a new garden project - replace the fencing down one side of the long garden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> (as far as you can see). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">50 posts to go in! (only physically capable of 3 to 5 in one day a week - so unless lockdown ends soon and the children turn up we could be at this all summer!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-13217575443912812402021-03-02T15:36:00.005+00:002021-03-02T15:36:57.356+00:00Village litter<p> I live in a very rural village in Norfolk (just off The Wash) which is 90% middle to upper class yet we have a dreadful problem with litter. In fact if the evidence of litter tells you anything we have a dreadful problem with alcoholics as 50% of the litter is gin, vodka, beer or energy drinks. And most of that seems to be tossed out of cars!! There are quite a few bins around but litter is everywhere right out to the rural roads where the next habitation is a mile or two further on. Worst thing to see is how it gets ploughed into the fields and mixed with all those food crops! </p><p>Last weekend some of the young parents of the village organised a litter pick (within Covid restrictions) off their own bat on the village Facebook. It was extremely successful with 200 black bags collected. Local businesses chipped in a skip and bags/gloves. Absolutely nothing was organised by the Parish or Borough council. As I am on the Parish council I was a bit ashamed but did my bit as a private citizen and expressed private support to the organiser. Not allowed to be public on this social media stuff apparently (and one day I probably will get sacked as a Councillor)!!!</p><p>Small Treasures blog posted this image of an anti litter campaign " 'up North".</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BufJypIBXkg/YD5YGeLflWI/AAAAAAAADtI/89M_PmrtMHY03uS8vxV3_gMRfqe7NH8JQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BufJypIBXkg/YD5YGeLflWI/AAAAAAAADtI/89M_PmrtMHY03uS8vxV3_gMRfqe7NH8JQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/image.png" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love it. Suggested to the other Councillors we get some! But probably not "suitable" language round here!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have put a poster on my non-recycling bin supporting the Tidy Village campaign and openly invited anyone to drop a black bag of litter picked in it if there is room. We never fill our bin up completely anyway and our 2 widower neighbours can go months without even bothering to put out their bins they have so little in them. We have plenty of capacity for litter and we have paid for collection anyway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shame that even after last weekend's efforts I have within half a mile of my house picked up 3 carrier bags full of rubbish in the last 3 days. Ah well, at least litter picking on the way back from the post box (the one marked NHS priority right out at the end of the farm lane) where I was dropping in the Bowel Cancer tests allowed me to say a sentence I never expected to my husband on return:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "I've been posting poo and picking up crap!".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-87095686984164830592021-02-19T15:22:00.002+00:002021-02-19T15:22:19.583+00:00Nearly better<p> Thank you for the good wishes on my last blog.</p><p>Well its Friday and apart from the<i> kung flu</i> injection site being sore I think I am feeling OK. Well I did vacuum and I did empty the dishwasher before noon, so I must be better! Wednesday night was bit wobbly and I cleared half a packet of paracetamol trying to get on top of the headache. Why would you want to do it again within 3 weeks when your arm is barely better? Far as I am concerned, good call Prof Whitty!</p><p>I shall view this like childbirth. Painful, swear you will never do it again at the time, and then 3 months later you think its a good idea and the bees knees. (My friend just sent me a lovely picture of her first great grandchild which was a treat and reminded me some pains are beneficial!)</p><p>The weather is all over the place. We have had a few nice periods that could harbinger Spring and we get excited but then it turns cold again. I have a few crocus and lots of snowdrops and daffs are popping up in the grass areas. When it was really cold I took advantage of the temperatures and put the contents of my freezer outside while I de frosted. We have ploughed through our frozen summer crops quite well this year but I need to get on top of the fruit as I see the rhubarb is already starting to throw up some stalks. The other thing I found too much of was chillies. About 3 lbs of long red ones. This year I must get them gone. Husband already sowing seeds for a new crop. The chilli jam has gone but we wasted half a jar and are not bothered. So I thought I would go for a chilli paste that you pop into cooking. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aF0NGLp7GZQ/YC_WFpnrU-I/AAAAAAAADss/WVhvjPotPy8Nad93isn8t90GQo3RxdAJwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1200" height="221" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aF0NGLp7GZQ/YC_WFpnrU-I/AAAAAAAADss/WVhvjPotPy8Nad93isn8t90GQo3RxdAJwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">https://itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com/red-chilli-paste/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Think it will be a useful spice addition to next weeks meals.<p></p><p><br /> </p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-5587145441733018952021-02-16T15:15:00.003+00:002021-02-16T15:15:29.739+00:00Well that was fun - not.<p> Thanks for everyone's comments and I think we were all going to dress up a bit! </p><p>The process at the local Health Centre followed its usual path. Do it on the cheap. Other centres have put up tents, laid out chairs, etc. Ours was running late, people queued outside (well spaced) and thankfully it was not raining or cold, and when you got inside you did a shuffle round taped marks on the carpet round a "roundabout" of waiting room chairs pushed into a "pass the parcel circle" but you could not sit down! </p><p>Once nearer the treatment rooms it was coats off, cardigans dangling, and go, go, go. I was probably the youngest and definitely the fittest I could see - at least I was not leaning on one, or two, walking sticks. My bright cardigan got a few comments about how cheerful it was! Some people were told to wait in their cars 15 mins afterwards but when I queried should I hang about as I had walked there - it was No, off you go. Thought about it and the two or three I heard being told to wait about were definitely on sticks, just had a heart attack (earlier gossiping) or were generally not "well". I must have been looking like a spritely spring chicken as no one worried about me!!!</p><p>24 hours later I could do with sympathy though. Arm is painful and I feel sick. I hope this does not last too long!! I have my own vaccine anti medicine on the side for later. A very big bar!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U3P35_VgED4/YCvgzNNNzaI/AAAAAAAADsY/v0A_0C_SJp0AdMsPYWe8vvpR5j1Y0KuYgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="196" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U3P35_VgED4/YCvgzNNNzaI/AAAAAAAADsY/v0A_0C_SJp0AdMsPYWe8vvpR5j1Y0KuYgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meanwhile I am milking the sympathy vote from husband who has more or less recovered from his jab last week. Made me porridge for breakfast, helped with the Grocery delivery and made coffee at 11am. Wonder if he could do the pancakes?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-67980557881950351742021-02-14T10:50:00.002+00:002021-02-14T10:50:25.186+00:00Vaccine wardrobe<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone else planning there vaccine wardrobe debut? Apparently you need to push your sleeve up to the shoulder so I am looking for a Tshirt with no sleeves? .... perhaps I need an off the shoulder evening dress or a bikini? Been such a long while since I have had any kind of appointment.....</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIjzGDpbgFQ/YCj-rzrMryI/AAAAAAAADsM/dKiG2lZuk0wRO3uty5Uf1GDQOeRel1wxACLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MIjzGDpbgFQ/YCj-rzrMryI/AAAAAAAADsM/dKiG2lZuk0wRO3uty5Uf1GDQOeRel1wxACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5420.JPG" /></a></div>T shirt and cardigan sorted. Do I actually have any clean jeans that fit? Do I have any ordinary shoes anymore?<p></p><p>I am beginning to feel I should be singing that 1960s song "I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear..."<br /></p><pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; cursor: alias !important; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 9.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I may go out <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/tomorrow" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">tomorrow</a> if I can <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/borrow" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">borrow</a> a coat to wear
Oh, I'd step out in <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/style" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">style</a> with my <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/sincere" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">sincere</a> smile and my <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/dancing" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">dancing</a> bear
Outrageous, alarming, courageous, charming
Oh, who <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/would" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">would</a> think a boy and bear
Could be well <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/accepted" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">accepted</a> everywhere
It's just <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/amazing" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">amazing</a> how fair <a href="https://www.definitions.net/definition/people" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; text-decoration-line: none;">people</a> can be</pre><pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; cursor: alias !important; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 9.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Obviously giddy with excitement!</pre><pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; cursor: alias !important; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: auto; padding: 9.5px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><br /></pre>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-28378006076779498502021-02-10T15:37:00.003+00:002021-02-10T15:37:21.371+00:00Got a date!<p> Will get my vaccine on Monday!! I am only 68.5, so it is earlier than I thought (well done Government) and its at the local health centre I can see from the window!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jqeNqdhEJKA/YCP8qYN0stI/AAAAAAAADr0/-qLw__O1jKATrbFD38ACMURIWLOQKl6gQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jqeNqdhEJKA/YCP8qYN0stI/AAAAAAAADr0/-qLw__O1jKATrbFD38ACMURIWLOQKl6gQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="160" /></a></div><br />Husband is picking up from his jab reaction a bit today. I think he is mostly fed up with the cold. We had to double the bubble wrap in the greenhouse this morning as it is -4C overnight.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6cTmAI-T1U/YCP9GNIuAyI/AAAAAAAADr8/UH7Ypqo7IAs-guU1ITbOcx5BRh57tRhqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6cTmAI-T1U/YCP9GNIuAyI/AAAAAAAADr8/UH7Ypqo7IAs-guU1ITbOcx5BRh57tRhqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Must send Whats App to Grandson to tell him Grandma may get to his birthday in June! LOL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-13882530270675779892021-02-09T15:28:00.000+00:002021-02-09T15:28:09.204+00:00Discovered some new dishes<p> Been a bit bored with our repertoire of meals lately so have taken on the challenge of finding two new dishes. Especially as there is no eating out in sight and a long time to wait for talented daughters in law to visit and cook for me!</p><p>In the freezer we had about 8 lbs of green gooseberries (we also have sweet red gooseberries in abundance too) and were a bit fed up with crumble and sponge toppings. An old school friend runs a Facebook page of "Lockdown recipes" and I appealed for ideas. Someone suggested Gooseberry Fool which it turned out using Nigel Slater's recipe was quite simple.</p><p>Double cream whisked with sieved and sweetened gooseberry "pulp". My first was too runny and the second try, too stiff. Think I should be able to get right balance with the next carton of cream. I topped with whatever was lurking in cupboard - granola and honey or granola and mini marshmallows. As the fruit is free it cost caster sugar and cream - about £1.50 for 4 servings?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn2XKiX84fA/YCKl0vSjEHI/AAAAAAAADrI/K0VYbJqMMisu4dqRuVRawpgVgO9U0gb5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn2XKiX84fA/YCKl0vSjEHI/AAAAAAAADrI/K0VYbJqMMisu4dqRuVRawpgVgO9U0gb5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pweUi2tj6Y/YCKl23cIgbI/AAAAAAAADrQ/vADcLMALdVwxQs7rcPGMlkJ0QQLHITQuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pweUi2tj6Y/YCKl23cIgbI/AAAAAAAADrQ/vADcLMALdVwxQs7rcPGMlkJ0QQLHITQuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My next dish was savoury. We were watching a YouTube about live aboard sailing couple whose Chinese wife cooked <i style="font-weight: bold;">fried egg rice </i>in her very limited galley/kitchen facilities. (The Wildings). My Husband said "that looks nice" and I thought I can do that! Checked a few recipe/cook sites on the WWW and it was a lot easier than I had always thought and I developed a way to use up left over long grain rice and bits of mixed veg with 2 eggs for a protein content. Has made a couple of nice, very cheap, warm lunches. I had dark soy sauce to hand and that added the taste but I think I will try to get some Oyster sauce recommended for the extra kick on one cooking blog I read. No real cost beyond the 2 eggs (20p?) as rice and veg were all left overs or home produced (onion, garlic, carrots, etc). I have stopped buying those pouches of ready made friend rice for a £1 each now I know how to do it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DObVftKdAnI/YCKnjWs6EZI/AAAAAAAADrc/lV66xAJ5w0AKo8s0Z-ropnaMUOAnY_UcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DObVftKdAnI/YCKnjWs6EZI/AAAAAAAADrc/lV66xAJ5w0AKo8s0Z-ropnaMUOAnY_UcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Husband not doing too well with "Kung Flu" vaccine. He is running through all the side effects on the leaflet. Currently "holding down the settee" with the heating turned up and ignoring the snow (and sunshine) outside.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FtvVzN99Sc/YCKpdl7mMpI/AAAAAAAADro/byJIXv1dQj8x1bBVWkV8lQ3CJ4olBIV3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FtvVzN99Sc/YCKpdl7mMpI/AAAAAAAADro/byJIXv1dQj8x1bBVWkV8lQ3CJ4olBIV3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-11324379322570696462021-02-05T16:00:00.005+00:002021-02-05T16:00:38.459+00:00Vaccines - bit like buses!<p> Hubby having followed NHS instructions and booked the jab at the local theatre within 48 hours got call from local GP to offer him an appointment as well! Decided not to mess around with their systems and stuck with the Sunday run to the local town. <i>Only now its due to snow! </i>Hopefully we won't have to cancel after all.</p><p><i>Do you keep a diary? </i>After 25 years of having an office diary full of meetings, due dates for projects, etc etc I was glad to ditch my paper diary. But the last 3 years we have kept a "growing" diary for our fruit and veg. Its useful in comparing what went in, when and where. Last week we looked up when we put in peppers and how long they took to show. This year after 15 days the same seeds are not doing a thing!</p><p>We also noted last year our water butts were bone dry by |March 5th and that the day time temperatures were 18C!!!! Bring it on! Up to our ankles in mud!</p><p>The one thing I regretted by the end of the year was I did not note the pandemic more. We argue about what happened when. |No doubt one day it will be in a history book.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well done Cadbury's!!! Welcome back to the |UK to make our chocolates! I love British manufacturing. Its a pity they cant rescue the Cadbury factory near Bristol too - I know if hit a big bit of the town when that closed and they moved everything abroad. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-frvIMX4kgRM/YB1rdEfJwOI/AAAAAAAADq4/NRZb1Dg9cUU7EgJ1h_p2KPx1ebhJTmIJgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-frvIMX4kgRM/YB1rdEfJwOI/AAAAAAAADq4/NRZb1Dg9cUU7EgJ1h_p2KPx1ebhJTmIJgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I must note that I went to Bourneville when I was 15. I did not eat chocolate for 10 years as the smell and the sight of the manufacturing made me feel sick. </p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-37066886358247114522021-01-31T12:36:00.002+00:002021-01-31T12:36:49.064+00:00Hubby going to theatre next week.<p> Seems strange to even approach such a building in these days of lockdown but that's where hubby will get his vaccination next Sunday. It will be his second trip into the town in a year.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5EYl6rC2qRY/YBajGmkK3OI/AAAAAAAADqc/PIo3kr1gxfcks5kFWzIDvKfMdweFpUVagCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="193" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5EYl6rC2qRY/YBajGmkK3OI/AAAAAAAADqc/PIo3kr1gxfcks5kFWzIDvKfMdweFpUVagCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="177" /></a></div><br />(from Google my old man is not so youthful)<p></p><p>For those in UK starting this journey my advice about the NHS booking web site is don't "plod" through it reading slowly. By the time he got to the "confirm your booking" the time slot chosen for the first dose was taken and it flipped him back to the beginning to re enter every choice again!!! After hearing that some people did not complete the bookings I advised he asked for a confirming email so it could be printed and taken with him. You book the second appointment at the same time so it all seems the systems are flowing nicely.</p><p>Ah well, something to look forward to next weekend. The highlight this weekend has been going across the village and the dual carriage way to get some seed potatoes! Its very cold with an east wind cutting straight through you but at least we can think Spring. That and a few snowdrops just showing some white!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P0OMzhs6iiw/YBakF2UgLzI/AAAAAAAADqo/ayAdruN4OL8OczfhRcZ1eYUknm72RScRACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="229" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P0OMzhs6iiw/YBakF2UgLzI/AAAAAAAADqo/ayAdruN4OL8OczfhRcZ1eYUknm72RScRACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="250" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Signs of spring?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-52156909381444969702021-01-23T15:47:00.002+00:002021-01-23T15:47:59.435+00:00Giving stuff away<p>Our village Facebook page is full of "stuff" people put out for free at their gates, mostly plastic toys. Late yesterday afternoon I put out a FREE message, saying it would be on verge around 10am on Saturday. By 10.05 the first person dew up, by 11.30 they were all (20) gone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MW2dLHSnFO8/YAxDouvBGSI/AAAAAAAADqE/xmo1uaEIpbkx0vU4kDyEqZ0cOsu4uyX_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MW2dLHSnFO8/YAxDouvBGSI/AAAAAAAADqE/xmo1uaEIpbkx0vU4kDyEqZ0cOsu4uyX_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Who would think a few scruffy spare plants would be so attractive on a damp dull morning?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Just as well all gone by then, as its 3 pm and its started to snow.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Prompted by my FB post, an acquaintance in the village just messaged me to say she was house packing ready to move to Kent. Shocked. She was so entrenched in village life here (various committees) and how did she manage to view houses in Covid times? Also jealous as it is one of the areas we are contemplating and we have not made our first step to achieve anything yet.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-72863738710842933092021-01-17T20:57:00.002+00:002021-01-17T20:57:41.475+00:00Virtual walking in lockdown<p>Weather is rubbish, lockdown means can't drive far, husband can't walk far enough to get somewhere interesting, so I have resorted to virtual walking on You Tube to change the scenery! </p><p>We started ages ago looking for You Tubes of local walking paths to gauge whether we could manage them and where to park etc. We moved on earlier in the year to real hikers but all those long distant mountain trails looked a bit tiring. (Plus all the women we looked at Anthea M, Abbie Barnes and The Outdoor Girl went on a bit about mental mindfulness). So we swapped to a gentle cheerful couple bumbling around Cornwall on walks we could probably manage and gave us a good look at areas we would like to move to one day. My husband wanted to show me more of Kent where he grew up but we have not found an engaging series yet. </p><p>This week we landed on a London walking tour. A really jolly chap (Joolz) with lots of historical and entertaining facts and bits. We have passed through London so often and missed loads of interesting things that showed is historical port and industries. Dug out AtoZ and Google and enjoyed following along. One day, in that distant future, we shall pause more as we transit London and explore.</p><p>Hours of free entertaining! So much better than main stream TV celebrity walks where they skip bits of the route and talk to the same sort of people repeatedly.</p><p>Besides which, we have kept dry and warm. </p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-9315045488152733872021-01-16T10:54:00.002+00:002021-01-16T10:54:37.481+00:00Testing<p> My eldest, a teacher in a specialist school, started his weekly Covid tests this week. All teachers done on Mondays and older cohort of returning pupils (residential) on Tuesdays. He was negative this week. His contribution to the process was to go to workshop in the most distant part of the school complex and build some test tube holders for the testers to use and then take his mother's advice to stay well out of the way!</p><p>Meanwhile my husband had his 74th birthday and got excited when an NHS logo envelope arrived. Not vaccine. <span style="font-size: large;">😞. </span>Advanced warning his bowel cancer screening test was due - the poo test!</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yV-xWfpjeEY/YALEz3Ms7wI/AAAAAAAADp0/cfVMQEPilzcPwPG1fH2pFnVbdfjEx1ttwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="242" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yV-xWfpjeEY/YALEz3Ms7wI/AAAAAAAADp0/cfVMQEPilzcPwPG1fH2pFnVbdfjEx1ttwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="279" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, in a sad Pooh voice, not much of a birthday card. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-58412444387856227332021-01-07T15:54:00.005+00:002021-01-07T15:54:37.769+00:00Not going to be defeated!!<p> Earlier in the summer when I was blasting up and down seams to make scrubs for the NHS I fell out with my sewing machine. For months I have not been able to get a decent stitch going. It is barely 5 years old and very, very expensive and to repair the "looking at" fee was £100. But a couple of days ago I brought it to the kitchen table, got out the instructions and turned on some smoothing classical music and was determined to sort it out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mCZqoGw89Q/X_cqK6kwvKI/AAAAAAAADpk/7caJVQykwcQ2QHyDgOfIF44mcB8TcIWMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mCZqoGw89Q/X_cqK6kwvKI/AAAAAAAADpk/7caJVQykwcQ2QHyDgOfIF44mcB8TcIWMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I won!!! After a couple of hours of re setting, changing needles, re winding bobbins it settled down to a decent stitch. I then tried out all of its embroidery special functions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMIld6fsIO4/X_cqQCZNZtI/AAAAAAAADpo/6cGe5l9HfVUT0GS1hTFwuTF4g7o3gA5qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s5184/IMG_5393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMIld6fsIO4/X_cqQCZNZtI/AAAAAAAADpo/6cGe5l9HfVUT0GS1hTFwuTF4g7o3gA5qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I have set myself a project to learn applique. Never really done much of this but I have the fabrics and thread and have worked through all the stitch menu settings now. Changing width and intensity, using special applique "blanket stitch" and ordinary but tight zig zag. My project is to put some flowers on a very boring beige door curtain that keeps out the draft from the front door.</p><p>The other day I posted about the daft adverts we see in the pandemic. I could not believe the next one that caught my attention. <b><span style="color: #800180;">Ryan Air.</span></b> <i><b>"Jab and Go"</b></i>. Get a covid jab and go on holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jump in a crowded swimming pool!!!!!!!!!!! This was hours after the UK Government briefing when the chief scientist said we would still be doing lockdowns NEXT winter and all the other gloom and doom. I was incensed. I complained the the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) and had an email today to say my complaint was added to thousands of others. </p><p>To ward of lockdown inactivity my son in south London has adopted an old dog from Battersea Dogs Home. They wanted one for ages but were unsure if a puppy was their thing. Our grandson is a lively enough thing!! The dog was abandoned outside the gates of the Dogs Home and it did have some health issues which have been cured now. Apparently it had been in BDH before. Poor thing has been unlucky. They have been told it may only have 2 years and not be that lively, but they are determined to give it a good, warm home and I am delighted they will get out walking more (even at a stately slow pace) as they have been working from home since March and miss their daily walks to catch trains into the city of London.</p><p><br /></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523947263063587415.post-8802091751525291872021-01-02T13:00:00.000+00:002021-01-02T13:00:20.379+00:00Changing things<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kzeUCWhwdjs/X_Bmu_VpvCI/AAAAAAAADpU/8_IvHVK79jEojD8A5z1pL1cDD6T6GD8pgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="564" height="422" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kzeUCWhwdjs/X_Bmu_VpvCI/AAAAAAAADpU/8_IvHVK79jEojD8A5z1pL1cDD6T6GD8pgCLcBGAsYHQ/w338-h422/image.png" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone posted this on a Facebook feed which was strange as this last few weeks I had decided I would no longer be a prisoner to the small (even micro) things I could change and had determined everyday to make those changes happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>So what have I done in the past few days?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. Filled in the micro gap along the top of a two feet length of skirting in the lounge with Polyfilla. Looks better already. Spring painting will be easier.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2. The bedroom curtain black out lining was sagging away from the top letting in the sunlight. Re stitched a 6 inch length.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3. Put the chipped bowls and plates in a box to be re cycled somehow. Did not stop to ask why we kept using them even though we have plenty of unchipped ones as that felt like self doubt and recrimination,.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>TrishWishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133314088190424463noreply@blogger.com12