Flower show

Haven't really had much about which to post here, life goes on in its usual chaotic fashion at Pixie Towers.

However, yesterday we went out to play at the Hampton Court Flower Show, attendance at which was suggested by my cousin M. (well our Mums were cousins but you get the relationship). The four of us, yes husbands came too, met up after a little local difficulty. Neither parties, who were arriving from different directions realised there was more than one entrance to the show, so we arrived at 10 at the Palace gate and the other couple were at the River entrance. Eventually we were together, thanks to mobile phones.

Started off by taking photos of the gardens, but then once we went off for lunch, forgot about the camera but here are a couple:-

Yes, not what we expected, it was to show what could be done with derelict land in an urban environment.
Another prettier garden, with lots of traditional cottage type plants is shown below. There were quite a few of these sorts of gardens, much greener, informal and natural. I like these.

this was lovely too.

Very crowded at times, we had lunch in the Alium Restaurant and Bistro, where we were able to sit, eat, chat indoors at a proper table and chairs.

More sitting down as we watched a demonstration of bread making, different methods from how we do it. Some very useful hints from the School of Artisan Food, little things like keep your yeast in the fridge, but put the bag (however well sealed) in a plastic container; don't use the sachets of yeast, lots of additives.
Reader, we bought the book, more practical than going on a course in Nottinghamshire.

Almost at the exit bought another book called Pretty Nostalgic Home; happy days from vintage ways by Nicole Burnett & Sarah Legg. Along with it were the first two issues of  a new magazine Pretty Nostalgic. 
It is self publishing, so hard in today's world that I would like to give you their website for you to see for yourself. www.prettynostalgic.co.uk . Just talking to the authors I felt they needed some encouragement, we did discuss indexes, ISBNs and the publishing world too. Hard work at the fringes of the show, but they were so cheerful and pleased to be staying in a B & B in Kingston rather than camping in the rain.

Looking at the catalogue now I realise that we missed so much, it would have been better to have had it before we went rather than buying it as we went in. Will look up stuff on t'internet instead, but now am off to watch programme about London streets. I know it will be recorded, but we never get round to watching recordings.

Home thoughts.

Just a few thoughts whilst I'm waiting for a loaf to rise as I decided to make bread rather than take one from the freezer. Bit naughty to make just one loaf, not efficient use of energy not sure I have the oomph to knead two loaves.

It has been a very unusual weekend for Ian left here at 7am yesterday to go to a Summer School at University of Sussex. Whole two days of maths related stuff. Can relate that he has enjoyed it, learnt a lot, thought about the next course too.

Meanwhile I'm home alone. Well yesterday not much alone as Martha didn't go out till gone 7pm last night so we did what we call Mummy-and-Martha things. Ordered a couple of friendship bracelets for us, I think of them as M & M bracelets from : www.poppysparkles.co.uk . Do have a look at this site, some beautiful, unique designs, prices that say "treat someone or yourself" and the pleasure of helping a small business rather than a chain store.


Today on my own and enjoying it apart from one thing. I don't wish to go and sit out in our garden. Even though it is reasonably quiet, only one lot of builders working on a Sunday, I am terrified that we have another fox visit.


Woken by the security light early on Friday morning, again the light alerted me to a fox in the garden on late in the evening. It had come through where the fence had not been put back properly by next doors builders, it was panicking too when Ian went out and chased it with the mop. 

Ian has propped the fence up now but I was worried the fox would jump over so have leant the whirly line against the fence too.

This is where I'm worried a fox will jump over, they have no fear around here and stroll about in daylight too.


My fears were dismissed by some at church this morning, but I would not be relaxed outside. Shame, the weather is fantastic, but some how the time has sped by. I am reminded of the time before I met Ian when I lived alone in my maisonette, I could pass a whole weekend without speaking to anyone, it didn't and doesn't bother me, I am happy with my own thoughts. In today's world I can share them and share others thoughts so would not wish to be without internet access and my iPad2 however much it eats into time.


Now I need to go and tidy the kitchen, there is ironing to complete, newspapers and a book to read and knitting to do. Two more rows of heel flap to be done.


Oh, and The Archers in 10 minutes. Byeeee!


PS on Monday morning. 


Loaf I made yesterday had a flying top but the taste was unaffected - still good. Think there may have been too much dough for the tin size, next time will set some dough aside for a few rolls as each time I make this the bread rises to twice the height of the tin.




Broad stroke planning our lives well into next year on Ian's return from his Summer School for the course he plans for next year is double the work and the double the points.* I am insisting we have a couple of trips away at the end of this year's study and before next years commences.


Then during the year I may go out to play again on my own, North Wales beckons again.


* We all know points means prizes don't we?

Give us our daily bread.

Never quite sure what to say here, think I will return to the template of Simple Woman's daybook although maybe not using all the categories. Whilst writing this blog I am making a couple of loaves so if all goes well you may see the final result.

Outside my window ... from the front of the house whether we look to the left or to the right we can see building materials. The house next door is being extended; next door but one the other way the property is being altered, rewired and replumbed. Skips are us.

I am thinking ... about Norway. How could this have been avoided? Probably couldn't but just hope somehow some good will come of this. What a way to learn about this tiny nation with a total population less than half that of London.

From the learning rooms ... Ian has sent his third TMA (Tutor marked assignment) to be marked. Quite a relief, I understand question 5 gave him, and other students, some difficulty.

From the kitchen ... bread is in tins, proving for the second time. Will be scampering downstairs to light the gas oven soon. Recipe for a Half and Half loaf is from Taste of Health, a BBC cookery book from 1985. Update: the loaves are baked, didn't stick when I removed them from the tins. That is always my fear in spite of oiling the tins well.

I am wearing ... M & S cream trousers, sort of chino style with a Boden black and cream striped top.

I am creating ... socks, on second pink one, nearly at the heel.

Also working on cardigan but that needs total concentration. Earlier in the week sat in the garden and made much progress but cannot follow complicated pattern if anyone else around.

I am reading ... waiting for reading group book, it will be The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks. From what I have gleaned on line it looks good.

I am hearing ... fridge humming. How exciting is my life?

One of my favourite things ... well not things, but place. It is the Royal Academy of which Ian is a Friend. Met up with him after his day school (morning only) and after a light lunch we saw just a few of 1000+ works of the Summer Exhibition. Didn't see anything I wanted to buy, most prices were out of our reach just as the sizes of the works would be in our suburban semi! There were a few I liked, my tastes are uncomplicated, I like interiors or street scenes that look realistic and also are calming. 

As I have worked in an art gallery quite often many modern works make me think of the Emperor's New Clothes. Good that everyone has a different viewpoint about art. We hope to return to see a few more of the works before the exhibition closes.

A few plans for the rest of the week ... BLF Breathe Easy group tomorrow, the last meeting for the development officer who is off to Oz, there has been no communication about the meeting. As I missed the last one, and development person has not responded to me, not sure what is happening. We shall see.

To tempt parishioners to come to the gardening party on Saturday vicar was promoting the joys of a new mower. It is a ride on one, now I've never driven one of these and have a mind to turn up and have a go. Will I need my driving licence? So different from our traditional push along hand one, bought second hand some 32 years ago for £5.00 and still going well.

A picture thought I am sharing ...

Photograph of one of the many and varied sunflowers in our front garden. Picture taken by Martha with her phone. Must take more pictures of these lovely flowers, some grown from last year's sunflowers. Those were from seeds given away at Hampton Court flower show.

T'Internet

Well folks,

Am enjoying new toy and spent much time playing with it yesterday, helped by Adam & Juliet who came to see us. Adam said he never expected to be envious of his Mum in the world of computers. It was not until Friday morning that Martha read my testing 123 email "sent from my iPad" so much screaming and excitement from her. She'd not noticed I'd been using my laptop in the kitchen without cable emerging from broom cupboard.

Today we had problems with the Internet, we've had to switch from cable to wifi and the three lights wouldn't work. Tried all the tricks, switching off and on, shaking the device before asking Ian if it would help if modem would be better in a different place. By this stage I'd reached the state of if all else fails read the instructions. Ian  then unwound a very long cable which is draped around the study; for some reason the one blue and two green lights have come and stayed on. As Ian says, the Internet is now another utility in running our lives. So I'm back here but have no pictures cos I haven't taken any.

We went on a Strollers walk on Friday which should have created plenty of Kodak Corner opportunities but I didn't remember to take camera out of my bag. For those who know the walk, it was from Marble Hill Park along the Middlesex bank to Richmond Bridge then back along the Surrey bank past Ham House to Teddington Lock. From there we walked through Ham Fields to the Common where group ate packed lunch near the pond.

We repaired to the New Inn, coffee for me, orange juice for Ian, don't know what the others drank. Discussion was about our first cars, not sure why such a subject caused so much laughter and amusement. It was one of those "you had to be there to appreciate the jokes" moment.

I left the 5 guys at this point, my legs felt heavy, a sign I'm running out of oxygen and some of Richmond Park is not flat. Instead bus to Richmond and train home. Made bread, used dried yeast and first lot didn't froth up but bread made by second try was fine. Need to use up the tin, Ian tends to use the quick yeast but I like the traditional method and twice proving.

Off now to finish off second sock, am so pleased as have reached the toe decrease and have just about 5 or 6 rounds before tackling the Kitchener stitch again. Promise I'll take pictures of socks for here and for Ravelry too.

Sorry about lack of pictures, recommend you Google Earth the places mentioned, or better still come and see them. It's the beauty of places on our doorstep that means we don't need to go away on holiday.


A little PS. The Strollers is the informal walking group from our church, we have a weekday walk of about 6 miles about once a month.  Ian was the youngest walker on Friday, the walks are not too strenuous, promote fellowship, I suspect we all benefit from the exercise, fresh air and beautiful surroundings.

Women's world day of prayer

Just a little review about yesterday morning when I attended the local Women's World Day of Prayer, which was held at the church I attend. Apparently this annual event is always first Friday in March, don't remember attending one before but may have always been at work.

Some of us had been asked to make little loaves, no one had any idea of how many we would need in the end Ian made a batch the evening before and we didn't use the ones I'd made in little loaf tins and frozen. Worked on the idea if the freshly baked weren't needed we could freeze them, but couldn't refreeze others.

The service had been prepared by Christian women of Chile, I thought it was slightly long but inspirational and thought provoking. Mention was made of the Chilean miners and their rescue, the service had been prepared before this happened.

Our vicar's wife made a cake, I didn't think to photograph anything until I saw some one else taking pictures so took camera out and just snapped a few pictures.

The cake had been cut but the logo can be seen.  the vicar's wife had arranged the flowers too,

Finally views of the table on which the bread was placed and a group enjoying excellent refreshments and chat after the service. Surprised how many people I knew there, especially as it was interdenominational and not just our district but the local town too.

Will update everyone on the home refurbishments another time, yesterday required a blog of its own.

Keep warm, keep in touch,

PixieMum

Simple woman's Daybook: grey January

MONDAY, January 24, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook: 24th January

Outside My Window ... It's been damp cold today and grey. Please may we have some sunshine.

 

I am thinking ... that is was pleasing that M & C who live up the road felt they could ask us for help about their leaking pipe. Even better that Ian had the special tape to repair a slight leak. Good that people feel able to ask for our help.

From the learning rooms ... First batch of OU 221 Discovering mathematics has arrived for Ian.

From the kitchen ... not much happening, still think we should plan our menus more than a day ahead.

 I am wearing ...M & S black trousers, black and cream striped Boden top and Uniqlo charcoal grey cardigan

I am creating ... cushion cover, nearly finished, so pleased with evenness of work; have just to thread yarn through final 6 stitches of beanie hat and sew it up. All ready for ML meet.

I am going ... to try to attend weekday services for the Week of prayer for Christian unity. Twelve noon is a reasonable time, 9.15 seems rather early.

I am reading ...  We need to talk about Kevin. Umm, haven't looked at it again but have till near end of February so not panicking yet.

One of my favourite things ... trying a new recipe and it coming out well, indeed so well that one wants to repeat it. I made two loaves from a recipe for Sleepless White that was in Telegraph magazine over a week ago, just 1kg of flour, 20 grams of salt, 2.5 grams of dry yeast and 560 ml of water. Main thing was that the bread was left to prove for over 20 hours in our chilly utility room. Worst part was kneading for 10 -15 minutes what was initially very heavy dough to handle. However, it was delicious so worth while, another benefit was that Martha didn't have a reaction to it so really pleased about that.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ...  Adam will be popping in to see us tomorrow, haven't seen him since Christmas so will be good to have a catch up, another Pulmonary Rehab session, home group on Thursday and a Strollers walk on Saturday.

Find instructions and links to other daybooks at The Simple Woman

Pictures I Am Sharing of the bread...

Well, it was a first attempt! I'd made two loaves on Friday evening but they were usual mixed white and wholemeal, again I'd left them to prove longer so they were light as well. Am attempting to do bread making whilst Ian is at choir practice on a Friday night.

Guess that's all from the blog of a nobody as Carrie Pooter may have written.

Visits

Just a few musings ...

went to meet friend P. yesterday at V & A with the intention of lunch and then viewing the Grace Kelly exhibition. Unfortunately we didn't buy our tickets for GK first so after a good lunch at the V & A café we found we couldn't go around the exhibition until nearly 6 o'clock which was far too late. P. has a lovely Border terrier to consider so instead we wandered around the museum and found other interesting things to see.

One area was supposed to be medieval but it was buildings and art. Took photographs of a building that had been rescued before demolition.


Main problem for us was trying to find a loo, they are not well signed and whilst did stumble on an exhibition near the National Art |Library of modern stuff, postwar designs and realised how quickly technology changes. I think this was the design side of modern technology but quite an overlap with the Science Museum.

Today has been an interesting day, managed to do gardening, I think the 'green gym' has done some good for I weeded and then planted the bulbs we had bought in Whitton High Street. A couple passing by remarked what pleasure they obtained from our sunflowers, I glowed with pleasure, the pressure I put on Ian to have these has been vindicated and he has agreed we add to the cottage garden effect by planting hollyhocks next year. Stuff that will grow above our 3' something wall is needed.

Apart from reading other blogs, especially those linked to Ravelry I have made two loaves of bread using the Taste of Health half-and-half loaf with slightly more wholemeal than white. Sneaky but healthy.

Very good sunset here, have not done it justice in this picture from back bedroom but you can see we look out on greenery. So good so near London, but then this is one of the greenest boroughs.

Must come away from here and iron, feel I need to use calories after a lovely, most delicious risotto cooked by daughter but humungous quantity.Maybe time for some knitting if ironing goes well, will listen to Last Night of the Proms whilst doing it. As I have been to a Last Night can recall the setting, I'm so lucky, we were right at the top of the Albert Hall, still promenading though.

Byeeee, Madeleine

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside My Window ...sunshine and a breeze. Also aeroplanes flying over, why are there a few planes by day and then just as we are going to bed about 10.30.pm the flight path changes  and the jets fly low over our house?

I am thinking .... that I need to finish this before I go to the local history library and work (voluntarily) on the digitilization of planning applications. Really enjoyable and sociable.


From the learning rooms ...silence as Ian has gone to his U3A art class.

I am thankful ...  for being able to walk 6 miles last Friday withthe Strollers group. I was amused by the cows in the River Thames near Cookham.

From the kitchen ...smell of fresh bread, made yesterday by Ian.

I am wearing ...CC dress, it has linen coloured background and red and brown patterns. Was purchased in Glasgow when we visited one Spring to celebrate Ian's birthday.



I am going ...to Richmond by train.

I am reading ... just the daily paper at present


I am hoping ... to get back into my reading groove now life is less busy.

I am hearing ... aircraft

Around the house ...silence, apart from the clock

One of my favourite things ...freedom of retirement

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ...Wednesday: Measuring for new kitchen floor, meeting of Breathe Easy Group; Induction of new vicar. Friday: hair cut and highlighted: Saturday: marriage of Stuart and Tanuka.

Thoughts from the dining room

Why from the dining room? Because that is where I use my laptop as Ian has the use of the study as he is now the student in the house. I have dared him to say that is what he does if he is asked by our new vicar or his wife. They are joining us next week, well the installation is next Wednesday but they moved into the vicarage at the beginning of the month.

I could set the laptop in the kitchen, our bedroom or the study but none of these locations seem right although we have internet access available in all rooms except son's bedroom and the lounge.

Anyway, reflections on the last couple of days. Yesterday was greater achievements than today as did much laundry, made a loaf in the evening whilst Ian was at OU tutorial. The bread meant a late night as the dough took a long while to rise, which made for a very tasty loaf but has made us tired today. Midnights are not us anymore. Today I played on my laptop, especially spending time on Archers websites and reading other people's blogs which are so fascinating, clever and absorbing.

This afternoon went off wearing my volunteers hat to the Local studies library where planning applications dating from 1880s are being prepared for scanning, indexing and adding to a data base. I so enjoy this work, some of the older plans are beautifully coloured, some are mainly concerned with drainage and others with the provision of new roads. Quite often look at the houses  on Google streetmap to see what they look like today.

Before I went to the library I bought purple socks for Ian to wear at our son's wedding next month. Purple is the theme colour for the wedding and I thought it would be fun for his socks to match his tie and my dress. When I came home he had a gift for me too, a string of pearls and earings in purple. They are so beautiful, I will feel so glamorous. Did I record that I bought a pair of L.K. Bennett shoes in Selfridges and then searched the West End for a hat? However, found the perfect hat in local M & S! That store had the largest range and variety of hats and other accessories compared with Oxford Street.

So, I'd better finish this, I feel so guilty when I have spent much time 'playing' here earlier in the day when there are so many other activities to be done. At least there is no ironing to be done now, but I have this so called Protestant ethic that I should be on the go all the time. We have much sorting out of family papers rescued from a loft, for although we cannot keep all the material we can offer it to relevant institutions. None of it is suitable for here or another  blog but will be of interest say to those interested in education in the early 20th century.

I missed many of the activities for Adult learning week so will see if I can be fitted in for something. Why wasn't I organised when the email came through a few weeks ago?

Would be pleased to have criticism, comments, views from anyone who reads this.