"The Simple Woman's Daybook"

Hi there my merry band of readers,

Monday's start of the blog :) Tis time for jam making, yesterday we made greengage and damson jam. the damsons came from the front of the vicarage. New Vicar's wife knew she didn't have time to use them before going to visit family so we have helped her pick them and are turning them into jam, some of which will be sold for good causes.

FOR TODAY, Wednesday 18th August 2010
Outside my window...sunny, clouds, cool wind; washing on line, and nearly dry. (Note, washing now dry, indoors to be sorted into ironing and airing - Ed.) Birds drinking and playing in the dish that passes for a bird table and other birds dropping the food from feeders onto the ground. We seem to be filling feeders daily and have decided the birds should eat what they dropped before we put more out.

I am thinking...why does this take me so long? It is hard work trying to be interesting and amusing!

I am thankful for...a successsful lunch yesterday. We had recorded a TV programme, friends P & R said they wanted to see it so we invited them for lunch and TV viewing. As R has dietary problems cooked, for the first time, a risotto from written instructions given by daughter. Only difficulty was when to add the large glass of wine so added it after the first pint of hot stock and there was no indication of quantity of parmesan so we guessed. Vegetables were broad beans, fresh peas, red pepper, French beans, carrots so it was colourful and served with a green salad, some of which was home grown and with home grown tomatoes.
For sweet made an Eton mess, very simple form of. Just strawberries cut up, raspberries, merangue nests from M & S so no additives, double cream and Greek yogurt. Very successful.
I suspect all four of us had difficulty staying awake whilst watching the TV programme.

From the learning rooms...Ian has finished all the work for this course that ends in October and has started preparing for next February's course. A bit over the top methinks.

From the kitchen...as above, jam making. Lots of damsons to be made into jam. Only question is:- Do we stone first or hope the stones will float to the top. Ian not happy with latter method so we will sit and cut up fruit to extract stones and weigh 3lbs at a time, cook them briefly and add sugar.

I am wearing...Jeans and a Gap tunic top.

I am going...off with the Walking Group on Friday, think the exercise will be good.

I am reading...Secret life of bees. Well finished it Monday afternoon afternoon and really enjoyed it. There will be discussions at Reading Group next month.

I am hoping...
.
Around the house...irong to be done, soon will need to prepare lunch. House fairly tidy downstairs after Tuesday visitors. There are benefits about asking people around. Will have to have another go, I thought lunchtime worked better than evening.

One of my favourite things...seeing a scam fail. Yesterday Martha and friend Emma, both bridesmaids went to collect their dresses from shop in town across river from here. Dresses were tried on, all satisfactory, girls wanted to take them away and told they couldn't as alterations not paid for. Firstly alterations were priced at £45 each for one hem adjustment and two straps adjustments. Suddenly the price was £45 total, but in cash and with no receipt possible. Both girls contacted bride as they understood correctly that there were no costs to be involved in the dress collection. After lots of calls, including one to the person subcontracted for alterations, the shop agreed that there was nothing to be paid. "Sorry for the misunderstanding." Should be sorry for the scam! Dresses and girls back here and they finished the Eton mess after their supper.

A few plans for the rest of the week: work in the Local studies library on Building our Borough the project where planning applications will be digitalised.


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

  of empty bird feeders, this were filled up this morning. Ian has gone to local High Street and will buy urgently needed supplies.

Mention of blog and offer a link back to the main page of blog. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/


That's all folks, back to ironing, jam making and washing up.

Madeleine

Update

Hi everyone who read my previous blog about the family exclusion from nephew's wedding and death of Martha's friend from primary school and choir.

Have heard no more about nephew's wedding and no one else has posted pictures in Facebook. I'll let it go, no one can force wider families to stay together and in touch.

We were visited today by our new vicar, he stayed for nearly 2 hours chatting, learning about Ian and I, we learnt about changes he wishes to make. Seem good to us, some were mooted by his predecessor and we learnt about G's funeral. It sounds as if she had planned it, poor girl, it should have been her wedding this month. Cannot take in the death of a talented 27 year old.

Been an odd week, yesterday was persuaded to call doctor's surgery as last weeks bites had become very painful and swollen, spoke with nurse on phone first and then appointment made with female doctor who prescribed antibiotics. Different ones this time, so far no adverse reactions to them. Such a good surgery, a model of kindness and understanding.

Now for good news! We have two tickets for a recording of Gardeners Question Time which is taking place at Kew Gardens on my birthday. Yippee!!!  Ian and I are now trying to think of a question we could ask, it's early September so if we were to take a plant sample in the problem would have to be at that time. OOh, so exciting. We are Friends of Kew Gardens, brilliant place to go and with our Freedom Passes we can travel there for nothing too.

One thing that is playing on my mind is that we don't do very well at entertaining, I have made one call tonight to a teacher friend of mine but left message on her answer phone as no reply. We know we must invite people around as we owe meals big time but neither of us seems to have the impetus. Maybe it's all the work involved, even todays Vicar visit entailed lots of cleaning, tidying up and picking up on detail. It would have been the day before our Treasure's fortnightly visit. I don't know whether I don't  want to invite people because I can't be bothered, (I would rather play on my computer or read my current book), whether I'm lazy and all the work and labour involving meal planning, cooking, getting out of plates, cutlery, choosing right wines etc. p.94 contd. is just not our thing. But, and it is a big but, even at the beginning of a sentence I know we should and I am scared too. Scared it will go wrong.

At least I have the best reason in the world for not inviting anyone here on my birthday! I'll be at Kew.

On that note I will shut down this addictive machine, go downstairs and make Ian a coffee and have last of today's antibiotic.

No pictures, but thanks for reading this.

Madeleine

Reflections

Yesterday was a disturbing day, one in three parts.

The morning was much as other mornings, to church, where I read the intercessions. I had written them with summer and holidays in mind, mentioned redundant churches, church in Mecanhelas in Mozambique which our NSM visits and the congregation supports. Home  after a 80th birthday celebration for a member of congregation to prepare lunch.

Darling daughter didn't want steak we had bought in Farmers Market day before, so we finished Farmers Market quiche instead but she was warned steak will be eaten today. Her fads change daily and if she says she will eat with us I feel, within reason she should share our meal choice. Obviously I would not serve her food she won't eat, like fish as that is a constant.

In afternoon Ian & I pottered around and then decided we should go out so walked in our local park which is quite wild. The council have planted huge swatches of wild flowers which look so colourful and can be viewed from the arterial road as well. Enjoyed walk but came back very tired, humidity, long walk and haul over footbridge shattered me.

Whole tenor of day changed when I saw pictures of nephew/godson's wedding on Facebook. Although he and bride have been engaged for ever (he put on FB that they were engaged to keep her quiet) we knew nothing about the wedding. Many would say why should we? I would have liked to seen the couple married, would have been more than happy to miss the reception and what looked like a drunken dance/disco after.

What makes it more difficult is that my sister and her husband turned down invitation to our son's wedding. They gave no explanation to Adam who was quite upset that his Godparents were not attending especially as his was a church wedding. Later we learnt my sister and husband had accepted an earlier invitation to another wedding, son of a friend of whom we had never heard before. If they were such good friends surely they would understand attendance at a nephew's wedding was closer and family? I suspect sister's husband wants them to have little to do with her family, especially as they seem to avoid other family gatherings.

Sister and I are very different, have never been very close but such exclusion of close family means that the rift will be even bigger. From the photos it didn't look like a small gathering so it couldn't have been a numbers issue. As her husband is very anti computers, and as far as I know they don't have one, there will be little point of contact.I will continue to send birthday and Christmas cards, I had stopped gifts in favour of a charity donation.

Late in evening Martha rang us to ask if we had seen Facebook, I assumed she was talking about her cousin's wedding but it was sadder than that. Her friend, aged 27, from primary school and church choir days had died from pancreatic cancer. We knew G. was dying, but the confirmation was upsetting that so one so young had suffered so much. Our thoughts are with her parents, they are not together so that is difficult now and her younger brother. G. used to spend time at our house, Martha stayed with her so we could go off on church walking weekends, the girls were in the choir in their early teens although they drifted apart later.

All these thoughts went through my head and I slept badly, until I put Radio 2 on sometime after 5 and that sent me to sleep till about 7.30.

Sorry to my readers that this is a downbeat blog, must close as have chores to do, have no picture to add, just my thanks for reading this.

Madeleine / PixieMum

August thoughts

    FOR TODAY Monday Second August Twenty Ten

This blog has been written over time today whilst doing other chores, like laundry, breadmaking and house tidying.

Outside my window...sunshine, have not been out so not sure of temperature. However, the garden is in drought conditions and we desperately need rain. Have had very little, so we have been saving every drop both in the kitchen and indeed water from the shower too.

I am thinking...can one use "colour catchers" many times if no colour has seeped out of a wash? Seems unnecessary to throw away an unmarked sheet. Just thought of it as I pull light coloured wash from the machine. Told you on Facebook I am trying to be a domestic goddess, trying in the laundry as well as bakery department.

From the learning rooms...Ian as very excited as he submitted his OU CMA (computer marked assignment) in plenty of time. He has been working very hard on this, partly as he wishes to obtain a good mark (the last two TMAs were 98%) and also he enjoys the study and is going to take a second level course next year. The work does mean that sometimes other activities go by the board but these are never critical items. I am trying to pick up the domestic stuff, so made bread and blackcurrant jam last Friday.

From the kitchen...breakfast washing up to be done; salmon defrosting; blackcurrant jam to be put away in perserves cupboard. Washing up done, drying up done both from breakfast and lunch.

I am wearing...denim blue Boden linen skirt and patterned Monsoon summery top. Not pleased with the wear of the Boden skirt, I think M & S are better for quality. One of the attractions of this skirt were the 2 pockets on the front so I could keep my Ventolin inhaler with me at all times but I think I will forgo this another time.

I am thinking about play upon words and puns. Today's paper reports the English cricket success - the strap line is "No shelter from Anderson". One would need to be a certain age, understand who the original Anderson was (Sir John Anderson - Home Secretary in late 1930s who organised the Anderson shelters). Our family are great on puns and play on words and try to catch each other out.

I am going...to bring in the dried washing whilst I wait for second loaf to rise. The water was just a little cool so the flour was cool so the bread is taking longer to rise. I tell myself that the slower bread is made the better it will be. Hope that is a true fact.

I am reading...Bill Bryson's At home.

I am popping in and out of The Archers message board, especially the Bull but haven't posted there today.

I am hearing...radio 4 and PM from the kitchen. Have been able to listen to radio whilst in kitchen and have enjoyed that, I miss so many good programmes.

Around the house...the bread is proving, have put it in a sunny spot by the lounge French windows. Have made usual half and half recipe, whereby 12oz white and 12oz wholemeal flour is mixed together. Comes from Taste of Health book published by BBC yonks ago.


A few plans for the rest of the week: usual volunteer at Local studies, Thursday, we may go to Eastbourne as Ian has never been there, we need to have full value from our Senior Railcards and I would like to see the sea this year. A walk along the prom., a lunch, maybe an ice cream and a train ride sounds good.

Here are pictures of the oforementioned jam.  I have not yet eaten any of this batch of jam so don't know whether my first attempt is any good.

Notice some of our Emma Bridgewater mugs.


As usual I must mention Simple Woman's Daybook  blog and offer a link back to the main page of her blog. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Have used this blog to give mine a structure although today it has been one of rambling and obscure thoughts and actions.  

Will finish now, bread to check, daughter will be home soon, I do wonder whether she knows about this. Am certain husband doesn't but I it is a kind of public diary but wish I could be more amusing.

Madeleine / PixieMum

Reflections

FOR TODAY Tuesday 27th July 2010

Outside my window...at the back the view is of birds of many varieties around the bird feeder, they must know that Ian purchased two bags of bird food yesterday.
Also, daughter's bedding on line but not sure how much it will dry, it's very damp and humid out there and the bedding is flannelette. Yes, I know it is a hot summer in London, she has been offered cotton bedding but has refused. My gripe is how anyone can sleep in flannelette bedding that hasn't been pressed, but she is happy with creases.

I am thinking...of a thread I read in The Bull, The Archers message board for non Archers fans where the discussion was whether one was disorganised or organised. Reading the thread I sympathised with the disorganised, who often spent much time on the message board, or started a project and then didn't see it through. I become annoyed with myself for "not getting on with things", ie projects or stuff I should do. Sometimes I feel scared to try in case I mess up or it goes badly.

When I mentioned the organised/disorganised thread to Ian he considered I was very organised, we had a discussion about it but I think there are different kinds of organised and I consider I'm bad at the motivation one.

I am thankful for...a lovely holiday at Holme Lacy House hotel in Herefordshire where we missed the rain, enjoyed the entertainment and visited Ross 0n Wye, Hereford and Hay on Wye. In all three towns we bought books, came back with about 13-14 plus a Lloyd Loom chair. Neither, daughter, son or daughter in law noticed an extra chair, but then we do have nine now. Came back with raspberries and black currants from a smallholding/garden. The raspberries were used to make Delia's cheat Eton mess but I broke the merangues into too small pieces and it became a bit of a mush, but a healthy one as yogurt was used instead of creme fraiche.

Also thankful fr visit by son and his new wife, they seem so happy and so together in spite of both working long hours and learning to do all the domestic chores together.

From the kitchen...Ian is making onion soup which will be served with my home made bread
I am wearing...black long linen Next skirt (v. old),  Laura Ashley white short sleeved blouse, red Clarks sandals.

I am going...to Local Studies for my volunteer work.


I am reading...Bill Bryson At home, really enjoying this big book. Did you know that the original Crystal Palace, built in 1851 was 1851 feet long?

I am hoping...for heavy, steady rain to water the fruit and vegetables.

I am hearing...preparations for meal

A few plans for the rest of the week: tomorrow local Breathe Easy group, Thursday am attending a funeral for a neighbour and a member of our church congregation.

For links to this idea see this website 
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Have had the most superb onion soup made by Ian, with cheesey toast softening inside it. Wow, so tasty. Followed by a very juicy peach.

Time to go off to local studies, so must sign out now.

Greetings PixieMum / Madeleine

Fings wot I have been doing

Well I am very peased for I decided to do something I never thought I would have the courage/nerve/possibility of achieving. For all you confident folk out there it would have been nothing but for  me to speak in public has been a challenge.  I started at church by agreeing to read the lesson, now have progressed to writing and reading Intercessions. The latest achievement was to speak at a planning meeting.

I knew it was a no hope case so if I was a disaster it would have made no difference. Briefly, a house two doors down from us has been empty eight years since it was bought from the original owner. The people who purchased the 1930s property, usual 3 bedrooms with room over garage,  have extended it on both sides, at the back and up into the roof. Each time planning permission has been given retrospectively, the roof extensions were taken and down and redone to a different configuration. From the plans it appears each room has its own ensuite so one could hardly claim the house will be a family dwelling. Work still not complete, scaffolding has been up a year. Recently we were informed that retrospective permission had been sought to demolish original garage in 30' back garden and replace with a detached house. Later this was changed to a garage and then again to a storage facility. The building that had been started was constructed to a very high standard, cavity walls, lovely bricks etc. and would be over 3.5 metres high. For a storage facility!

Although many neighbours, including those who the council hadn't informed, wrote letters no one was willing to speak at the planning meeting. I suspect it was through fear of the developers so in my address I assumed it was to be a family home and that instead of spending time and money constructing such a large and high building why did they not just buy a traditional English shed for storage! After all, 8 years is a long time to wait to move into a family home! Husband spoke too, he wanted assurances that the proposed storage facility would not be used for residential purposes, assurances that the council cannot give but the neighbours would have to monitor the situation.

We sat through another planning application, I had looked through previous minutes and it seems to me that it is pointless to challenge planning decisions made by council officials. Even retrospective ones seem to slide through, neighbours' opinions are dismissed and only 3 of the councillors said anything and they all voted with the officers recommendations. Each decision is made without any reference to precedence, different from English law so one householder could have his plans accepted and identical plans could be refused in the same borough. Having said this, the two councillors who questioned me were very pleasant to me, they seemed to recognise I'd never done anything like this before. I was thrown when the chairman told me to speak up as his hearing was not good, so I switched the timer off, started again in a very loud and croaky voice. Why are there not microphones?

What else has happened? Last week we went to Hampton Court Flower show, from the newspaper the next day discovered the Duchess of Cornwall had been there the same afternoon but didn't see her. Enjoyed the show, especially all the displays to mark 100 years of Girl Guides. Guiding seems more fun then when I was a guide, I was mortified when I tried to renew my promise last February to discover the promise had changed and I didn't know the new one. Ooops.

 Last Monday had lunch in local hostelry with reading group, enjoyed the chat, discussions and girl talk but found later the cheap food didn't agree with me. Chose pasta rather than the breaded fish but something in the ingredients, or the icecream sundae thing, caused mild allergy/reaction.  I would rather go to a better quality venue, but this is convenient and at £5 per head is possible for those on budgets.

Not sure of future plans, but hope for some rain, we had our first rain for about 6 weeks last Wednesday but ground is still dry so we take out bowls of washing up water to throw on the garden as our 5 water butts are more or less empty.

Sorry if I've gone on a bit, this is therapeutic. Must get on with domestic stuff, need afternoon tea and to hear yesterday's edition of The Archers. Missed 2pm repeat too.

Greetings to all who come here, especially those I meet in ML as well.

Madeleine.

Suburban Retired Lazybones

FOR TODAY Wednesday 7th July 2010


I am thinking...about London and the anniversary of the bombing. We go to London quite a bit, I don't give a thought to safety on the Tube, Underground or trains yet I should. More concerned with the crowded trains and on the Underground always grateful for the offer of a seat. I must look ancient as I rarely have to stand these days.

My daughter would accuse me of being a pedant for differentiating between Tube and Underground but there is a difference. The Underground is more open as it was built using the cut and cover method, whereas the Tube  is much deeper in the ground and made by drilling.


I am thankful for...the kindness of my asthma nurse today. No testing, no attempting peak flow measurements, just reassurance that sinus pain and hayfever symptoms were normal, just renewing my prescriptions and we then chatted and laughed together.

From the kitchen...nothing but haddock defrosting. A bit too much for us two but impossible to separate the flozen fish. Why weren't they separated before freezing?

I am wearing...Country Casual linen dress again, loose, decent, comfortable, smart, elegant and it suits me.

I am going...to see a production of Blithe Spirit  by the St Edmunds Players in Whitton and to the Hampton Court flower show
I am reading...Maeve Binchy Heart and Soul. Have had book for ages, it's not a heavy read and a reward for completing Conan Doyle's The Sign of Four which was the reading group book. We are meeting for lunch next week to chat about the book and everything else, including I expect the  Blithe Spirit production.

I am hoping...that daughter's holiday in Ibiza was a success, we will know on Friday when she returns. It is some time since Ian and I were on our own in the house and it has taken some adjustment, we don't seem to run out of hot water!

Around the house...we found some china packed away in the garage, not sure from where it came but have used it for display, plates on the wall and other items on top of fridge/freezer. Gives strong colour to kitchen, rest is mainly magnolia, beech colour and white. Darling husband put it plates on the wall and also washed top of fridge before china was arranged. He is a gem.

One of my favourite things...the peace and calmness of the Prayer and meditation service held once a month at our church. We were thinking about the Beatitudes and it was so good to contemplate these without the fuss of ceremony.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...shows the china!

Mentioning of course the Simple Woman's Day book blog and offering  a link back to the main page of her blog. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Greetings to all who come by here, that's all folks as it is nearly time for me to hear about the goings on in Ambridge.