Preserving the bird...!

Well, it's done?  I've turned my left over turkey into turkey and bacon rillettes and turkey confit.  And half of the carcass is now being cooked to produce a soup base to which I shall add some of the meat and new fresh vegetables, for I do so love home made soup served with warm crusty bread.

I used some lovely new Kilner jars and a few of my ramekins for the preserved meat and an old stoneware marmalade pot for the cooked belly pork.  I'm not sure how I'll use this last item yet but there is sure to be a way.

It's simply ages since I've done such cooking and I'd forgotten how concentrated an effort it could  be, still it was all managed and, even the dear SO said it was all handled very well  indeed!

But that was only half of it, as you might well imagine, for the kitchen was pretty well sabotaged by cooking pots and utensils and saucepans and the hot smell of butter and meat but mostly the lard used to finally seal the contents in the jars and pots.  That was the worst aspect of the scenery.  Of course, most of us now have not generally cooked with lard for quite a long spell and the once well-known and pungent smell, rather assaulted the senses.  I really had entirely forgotten the sensation and it was all rather shocking.

However, after liberal application of hot water, elbow grease and cleaning fluid, my kitchen was restored to its usual state of good order, and all was finally well again!!

We shall have to wait for at least a week to try one of the pots of rillette, with warm crusty bread and perhaps a pickled walnut or some red cabbage, and a glass of red wine, which will be something to look forward too.

And then I'll let you know how it was?

And here's some lovely roses and lilies sent to me by my children and aren't they just gorgeous, and seen to perfection here against my red gingham cafe  curtains?

My kitchen is all pine and cream and the scarlet just lifted the whole area into another entity altogether.

Red, and this particular scarlet,  has long been a firm favourite, worn as Laura Ashley dresses, wraps and scarves and, somehow, I've always felt the shade conveyed an extra degree of brightness  and style to any occasion, and indeed, the happy wearer.

Daisy

Turkey-bites!

Oh my, our lovely turkey was delicious...what's more, we now have quite a large amount of turkey meat to eat up, and soon, and without recourse to our small freezer!

It's my belief that cooked turkey meat should be fit to be turned into a confit item and preserved in a Kilner preserving jar, and stored in a cool place until ready to be used for all sorts of dishes.

So I have my turkey and some butter and oil, a few onions, carrots, plus some other ingredients such as black peppercorns, a bay leaf or two, sea salt and...........well, we shall see when I get going.

I think I'll cook my vegetables and spices in a good mix of olive oil and butter, a gentle saute, until the mix has gently collapsed and then I think I'll strain the hot fat over the meat, leave it to cool and then spoon the mixture into warmed preserving jars.

Then water bath my filled jars for the required time.

I think the mix will be delicious which I shall use in all kinds of different ways!

Happy cooking.....

Daisy

Festive After-glow

Well, that was fun, hey, and more than that, absolutely lovely to be with the Family at this time, for where else would one be by choice?

Television has not been absolutely  brilliant but flashes of inspiration and good humour and good timing have been available and things have been recorded for future watching, so all bodes well for all futures.

Christmas is a wonderful season but it can be difficult in all kinds of ways, for many people.  We have such high expectations of The Day, itself, let alone the rest of the holiday period so it's hardly surprising things fail to come up to our ideals.  The build-up begins too early and the crescendo hits us at our lowest ebb, when we're sure we'll not get everything done in time, so much so, we believe our own worst fears.

And of course, the shopping is a huge chore, especially if it has to be left to the last minute, so for those poor souls, that's the nightmare of the season.  Luckily most folk are able to organise their needs and wants to a higher level, and cope well with demands on their time and, quite frankly, if you do find you've forgotten something, its probably too late to do anything about it anyway, and you'll probably cope without whatever it was you'd forgotten!

I noticed our television chefs were all very keen on telling their viewers to prepare things early, as much as possible well in advance, to save that awful last minute hassle, endeavouring perfection for each and every Brussels sprout and every pig in blanket ever attempted.

So I do hope your Christmas was as super as mine was and you loved being with your family, and you're now still talking to each other and if you are, well done.  If not, forgive yourself and your loved ones, and keep in touch, and things will be well, in due time.

Daisy

Christmas count down, day one

It's late afternoon on Christmas Eve and we're all gently mellowing into the festive season.

The family are busy in the kitchen making more mince pies and some yummy-looking chocolate crunchy things.  Thankfully the boiler has now been mended, which means we shall have both hot water and warmth, for their engineer came today to fix it, and now it works again.

We had the leg of lamb for lunch, roasted to perfection, and with Yorkshire Puddings, roast vegetables and gravy, we had a glorious lunch; followed by cheese and biscuits, dried figs and dates and sugared ginger, plus wine and coffee and chocolates! I think we've got off to a jolly good start?

A nice afternoon of family activities then before bath time, we hang the boys stockings by the fireplace,  putting out a mince pie and glass of sherry for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph. Traditional pleasures to be enjoyed and repeated throughout our children's' lives, they enrich and cultivate deep emotional feelings for childhood's golden age, to be held dear by the grown-up child.

Modern childhood can be so short a state in today's society, with little tots of three year's old, going on thirteen, kitted out in modish style, with their play-phones, jewellery and precocious ways.  Or for those destined to be part of their world's particular war-torn state, harsh drought conditions, disease or homelessness

Let children be children for as long as possible, whenever possible; and for those forced into adulthood before-time, sympathy and empathy and practical assistance, to help them cope with the world they're forced to live in.

We're having a very quiet evening with just a small supper for we've eaten very well today.  Tomorrow will begin early and be noisy and exciting all day long, for all of us, grown-ups and children alike, and it will be glorious.  A day to treasure all year long.

May all of you enjoy a truly memorable and magical Christmas Day, wherever you are, and with whom you are with.


Merry Christmas

Daisy

Don't you just love...........?

shopping, especially with your best loyalty card?  This was me today, shopping in Sainsbury's, for our Christmas food; buying the favourite pickled walnuts, crisps and snacks, mince pies and Battenberg cake.

And onto Boots the chemists, for holiday bits and pieces for my sponge bag and a bright pink shower cap, just for fun.  Then onto Cargo Home Stores for some special fun Christmas presents and....did you guess, they presented me with their loyalty card; what points will I get from my purchases in 2013?

A neat and tidy house, with knick-knacks under control, everything in its place and a place for everything to be stored in?

My shopping trip  also garnered wicker laundry baskets, two plastic laundry tubs, a towel rail and a wall storage unit for the bathroom and some rather cute hooks and decorative heart shapes for the kitchen.

I had hoped to buy new net curtains for the sitting room but I simply ran out of time but managed to find a new bright red dustpan and brush which I hope will be more efficient than the one we already had, which annoyingly, allowed dust particles to escape and remain on the floor!

Housework - a necessary chore we can never escape, so good tools are essential.

A few Christmas cards to hand deliver, then home to wrap up the last presents, supper with TV and then preparations for going away for Christmas with my daughter and her lovely family.

Phew!

And tomorrow a family party on my way to London....it's going to be a busy day.  Rain is forecast, and heavy in the West Country and elsewhere,  and folk are being warned about unnecessary travel, so things could be difficult for many,  Hopefully my drive will be OK but I'll take a flask of hot coffee and things like my torch, a small rug and boots, just in case of problems; you know, just in case of an emergency.  You can never tell what might occur?

And I must take my computer and camera, the turkey and lamb joint, fresh country eggs and, oh joy, my special treat - Croissants for holiday breakfasts!!!

Hey ho, bedtime I think???

Daisy xxx

Boxes.....

Still unpacking, sorting, some emptying but more than not, searching, re-sealing and finding somewhere to put the newly re-sealed, re-numbered and sorted box.   And luckily , the dear SO has been putting up shelves in the second bedroom for the boxes, which gives us a greater carpet space to walk on and Hoover.

And with the newly created floor space, we were able to tidy up His collection of pictures, enabling me to get to my Welsh dresser and its cupboard space, only to find the space was completely taken up with sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers, plus a few odds and ends.

Now the dear man has a clever device to squash into plastic bags, extra material household items, which wonderfully reduces another pile of things into a better manageable size and shape and thus things are getting sorted and organised and tidied up....Phew!!

The downside of unpacking was the discovery of broken kitchen items, scratched furniture and the non-discovery, so far, of the family chess board which my son is particularly anxious for me to find.

On the upside, however, I've rediscovered a rather good leather satchel-handbag I'd forgotten owning, my son's first collection of stones found on an early geological field trip, and still bearing scraps of the identification labels he'd so laboriously attached, favourite books and an entire box of shoe polishes, dusters and Marigold gloves.  Plus two feather dusters.

Life is full of odd mixtures of things, isn't it?

And boxes cleared and re-settled certainly give ones spatial awareness a boost and a lift to the senses!
I'm terribly good at gathering stuff and clutter which, becoming important to me, is awfully difficult to clear.  And what I've found, when you do dispose of things, it's an almost sure-fire certainty that five minutes later, or sometimes days, you'll be absolutely needing the very thing you've only just thrown out.  And more spending!!!

Our Christmas tree is almost dressed, the presents are almost all wrapped up and my cards sent and all we have to do now is a little more food shopping and then we're ready for our Christmas festivities, which is just great.

I hope you too are ready for however and wherever you will be spending the Christmas season and, gathered together with family and friends, will enjoy a happy and peaceful few days.

Goodnight,

Daisy

Awareness, spatial or not...!

Parking....why is it that sometimes one can't?  Out shopping today, meeting a girlfriend who was waiting to give me a book, mine which she'd borrowed for our book club, and I was trying to park..

So I parked, and then realised my car was skewed and trying to straighten it, I realised things were getting worse.

So what did I do, I locked my car and walked away.  And it was only a little bit skew-whiff, so I left it and just hoped it would all work out well for my car by the time I got back to it; when I'd done my shopping, after seeing my girlfriend, and when the owner of the car next to mine had driven away.

There was plenty of space for the other car to drive away and I just didn't want to make things worse.

The more I drive I now realise how easy it is not to be perfect and to make mistakes or to just get it wrong.

According to my dictionary and research, spatial awareness is a person's ability to fix their position with that of things close by.

Now you standing anywhere can easily see how external things correspond with yourself but it's my contention that, put into an external thing, like a car say, then what you have is a body within a box, trying to manoeuvre both objects as one thing, within the sphere of another spatial notion.

We all want our own space to develop ourselves and grow but movement can be tricky, at the best of times, and today was not the best of time for me.  So I stepped away from a situation I put myself into today and actually think I grew a little bit, which is kinda pleasing.

I shall do better next time.

Daisy

Time.....

is running away with me.  I wrote all my Christmas cards on Sunday, and now I've heard from someone I've not sent one to, so I must  buy more tomorrow.

And I've still one more family present to buy, and a few little things for the dear SO, and I need to buy a planter dish to stand our Christmas tree on.

Then I need to dash off to the butcher to buy a leg of lamb, festive foodie items for the turkey He is going to cook when I'm away...and the lights for the tree have still to arrive.

And the flat is still knee deep in packing boxes, there are piles of books to be sorted out, and some given away and I'm aching with all the exercising dog activities I'm doing to get myself energised for our forthcoming hectic family get-together.

Not to mention the chocolates I need to wrap up for my sisters!!

phew ....Christmas ...don't you just love it???

Daisy

Mince Pies

"'Tis the season to be eating mince pies".....

And don't we just love to but...if you have any problem with wheat gluten, such eating will be hazardous.

I remember trying so hard to produce a good gluten free mince pie but, pastry without gluten is just hard and unpleasant.  So in the end I gave up trying and used a Pate Sucre or sugar paste and simply restricted my consumption; or rather made tiny cocktail sized pies which made it possible for me to eat more!  I have to admit to being rather greedy for mince pies well, I mean, they're so delicious and more-ish, how can one resist them.

In one busy working kitchen, when I was required to bake several hundred pies each year, it was my chore to watch over my newly-baked pies to make sure not too many disappeared, for freshly baked mince pies are just so tempting!  My then boss was most particular that I should bake, cool and store as quickly as possible - and I was making hundreds!!!

So last Saturday I treated myself to some gluten free mince pies,  hoping they would be delicious, and they were not.  A great pity for myself and for the very ardent and keen artisan bakers. Ah well, back to the drawing board.

My son and I had a smashing Skype and we too talked mince pies and pastry recipes, cutters and home made mincemeat and I was able to send him two of my special baking trays and some pastry cutters; and also some very tiny star cutters, a crimping tool for his Australian Cornish Pasties and a new orange  pastry brush, all of which I was able to find in my very good local kitchen equipment shop.

They also sell smashing Emma Bridgewater mugs,, which we all love!

Daisy

Settling in...

that's what we've been doing since my return from London!

Boxes and boxes of china and books (so many) and things; things stored away and some not quite recalled with any exactitude.  Like opening Christmas boxes for the home; rediscovering objects and precious stuff stashed away for the move from one home to another.  Stored against another day's coming, another  home-coming, a new place to make your home, create and enhance with favourite possessions and fill with your favourite people and share with love.

We're not there yet, well, not quite, and it will take a few more days before we can begin to feel at home, here in our new abode, as we did in our previous home, a large and enlarged family home.

So yes, we've down-sized, which means less housework to be done but then less space to move about in, which will take some time to become accustomed too.  Yet we will.  It's nice inside, with all our favourite goodies about us, and with less time used up by chores there's more time for writing and reading, walking Alice and generally doing the things we've both put aside for family commitments.

All will be well, in due time, and the spirit of Christmas will certainly take hold, within and without, and life will be OK again.

And the view from our kitchen window.....I'm just longing to see our tree dressed in snow, very soon now!

Cheery-bye

Daisy

Granny's Grumble...

Pushchairs!!!

They seem to be so tricky to manage.  Almost impossible.  So I've practised hard these last two days to get a hold on things and I'm happy to report I now can.  But oh gosh, it's been a struggle!

Every lever,  clip and device is so stiff and difficult to manoeuvre and it's a matter of brute force to get the thing together, let alone use the foot brake with any ease!

Of course, our grown-up children use them daily and know all about their kids pushchairs and their little ways, and very kindly tell us how to work them, but it's not until you simply have to work the chair yourself, that you begin to master its difficulties.

Brute force and common sense, that's it.

Humour is such a redeeming tool, don't you agree?

Daisy

Guess what......?

I've just seen a fox in the garden!  I was standing by the opened 'fridge when, freezing on the spot, found a fox staring hard at me thru' the patio door.  Bright black eyes scanned the interior as I held my breath, waiting to see what he would do next, wishing him not to run away.  He was very lean and his brush quite deflated and he was obviously cold and hungry, desperately looking for food.  He moved away from the window out of my sight and I thought I'd lost him.

I crept cautiously towards the door and there he was, pacing about the patio, past the window again, onto the grass, looking carefully about and sniffing the cold breeze.  He raised his head towards the sky, seeking direction perhaps or scanning the clouds for snowflakes, for it was so cold.

Then, with a sudden leap, he was onto the garden seat and focusing on the fence, and with one graceful bound he was up and over, and away.

My visitor had departed and of course, my camera had not been to hand.  What a stunning photo that would have made and, what's more, it would have looked good beside the  photo of the strutting pheasant taken by the dear SO in his garden!

I know the urban fox is well documented but isn't it exciting when you see him for yourself, in your own space?

Daisy

Sunday, sweet Sunday...

A smashing day which had a somewhat unfortunate start in that I woke up very suddenly at 5.15 worrying about facts and figures and things not quite organised!!

Such as Christmas shopping, our monthly accounting and a list as long as two arms, of chores still to be organised and done before Christmas, notwithstanding the fact that I'm going away again to London tomorrow afternoon.  This time I'll be supporting my daughter and my darling grandchildren while my son-in-law is away on business, and mostly doing the morning and afternoon nursery run, keeping things running smoothly for all the family and trying to sort out my blogging facility; making it more user-friendly, accessible, colourful and connective.

Wish me luck?

Now today, my sweet Sunday.  After my too early wake-up, I returned to sleep-mode and enjoyed two peculiar dreams which, now I come to think of them, find they have simply evaporated from my mind!  But let me assure you, they were very fascinating, while they ran amok through my sub-conscious entity!

Finally when I awoke at a sensible hour at 8.20 am, I catapulted myself into action because I'd promised to attend church in our previous home village a few miles away, and my hair had to be washed.  Now I simply hate washing my hair because when I do, it often looks awful for a few days, nice for two days, and then it begins to look awful again and in dire need of more shampoo and conditioner, and to be dried, dressed and finished off!  Phew!

So taking myself firmly in hand, I dived into the shower and did what was necessary and suddenly it was 9.20 am and I needed to get going; and rather surprisingly, to me at any rate, I thought I looked quite presentable!!

And I did get to church on time, and the Service was very enjoyable, and I was very pleased to be in church.
It's something I do because I like to do it, and I'm telling you that I go to church, because that's what I like to do, in my life.  I truly believe ones religious identity is a personal and innermost conscious decision, based on family background, history and connections with the world one has been immersed in since birth.  It's an own fact and that's that.

After church I called on friends to deliver a birthday present and stayed for breakfast with them - mmmmm lovely hot porridge and coffee and much good chatting and laughter; plus an invitation to their grandson's third birthday tea party later on, which was most agreeable.  Now I'm really being very careful NOT to eat too much, and certainly no chocolate or cake, before Christmas time, you know, to give myself a little breathing space before the glory of the season's festive food bursts upon us all, and we surrender to its potent persuasion!

Dashing home to carry on with my determined efforts to sort out my boxed possessions brought out of our store place yesterday, I managed to do some good work before changing and hurrying off with Alice, much to her absolute delight, to rejoin my friends and their family.  And I decided to wear a new skirt, just to remind myself and everyone else, that I do indeed have legs; for you see, I am now so very often in trousers, one does sort of forget about ones legs, clad in a variety of different fabrics, even jeans, and totally hidden from view!!

Well, the tea, party was a delight  and we gave the birthday boy a teddy bear and to his new baby twin sisters, each one a teddy bear; one called Marmaduke and the other, Henry.  Now all these bears had originally belonged to me and won at festive work functions and had languished, until recently, in store boxes with my other belongings, whilst we searched, bought and renovated our new home.  And regretfully I decided that I really must find new homes for my lovely bears because they totally deserved to be cherished and loved by new owners.  It's as if I'm almost becoming a a recycling-bear facility, for I've already given two bears to new homes, and I still have another two bears to give away.  One is going to my youngest grandson, and then I'll have just one more to give to another new owner.  I just seem to collect teddy bears somehow, don't you?

Well we stayed rather  longer than intended, for I was allowed to feed one of the twins, and oh my goodness, they are absolutely perfect in every way, and utterly adorable.  Tearing ourselves away, we arrived home with time to continue my box sort out, walk Alice, sample a smashing home-made vegetarian Lasagne  made by the dear SO's son, do my accounting and....write up my busy day's activities!!

And now it's bedtime....goodnight,

Daisy

PS - in my younger days, I was always in frocks, and often Laura Ashley, which was so very nice.
And going out without having eaten breakfast....well, there simply wasn't time to eat anything at all, which is not a thing  I usually allow to happen.  But, well, today, it did just happen!

Ironing....and who does it? Do you??

Well, I do sometimes, and actually much more than my daughter, who loves to iron her duvet covers and pillowcases.  A girlfriend only irons cuffs and collars of her shirts, I mean the bits which show, and of course, all of her husband's clothes; but very, very quickly, so that she doesn't use too much electricity.

They are terribly conscious of not ever using too much energy for household things and always use their washing machine and dishwasher at night time to catch the Economy 7 rate, and I applaud their efforts to be cost effective.  However, even though my friend irons very quickly, she still manages to make the finished item look beautifully smooth and finished to perfection.  She also has an absolutely wonderful steam iron and a very wide ironing board, neither of which I currently possess.

Now my daughter actually has some of her ironing done each week by her cleaning lady, because both she and my son-in-law work have very busy jobs,  and I think it's mostly my son-in-law's shirts which are done, and possibly some of my daughter's work shirts too,  the duvet covers and pillowcases.  Of course, with today's modern fabrics and advances in technology. many clothes don't require ironing, being washed and tumbled dried almost to perfection, which is a great boon to many of us; especially those of us who have to  "do" for themselves, so as to speak, or who simply cannot bear to wear non-ironed items of clothing.  Like me!  I simply cannot stand wearing clothes which are wrinkled and creased.

Unless of course, one is wearing seersucker fabric made into shirts and children's' frocks, but I think I'm being a little old-fashioned, suggesting still the use of this particular cloth, as I'm not sure if it's still used.  Of course, I do know they can now use certain chemicals to produce a wrinkled finished product, and I've heard that the use of this chemical can produce very unpleasant side-effects for the workers involved in its production.  So perhaps fashionably wrinkled clothes are not really on?

So ironing is either a chore you love or hate.  Some people earn an income from its activity and another girlfriend of mine did just that; even I, in my younger, yummy mummy days, succumbed to the temptation of home enterprise earnings by ironing for others.  But not for long, oh no, not me, just too much hard work, and the deadline, just too inconvenient for family life.  Then another lady I know absolutely refused to do any ironing at all, even for her children, and now her son positively ridicules my sometime, passionate determination, to have beautifully smooth and wrinkle-free garments to wear.

So there you have it, or not, as the question goes.  To iron, or not to iron, is the question I have in mind right now, and it would be absolutely splendid to hear from you, or anyone out there, just what you think about the pressing matter of crumpled clothes?

Happy steaming........Daisy

Friday again...

Another week almost done and everyone's looking forward to the weekend.  I've loved being in London with my family, and taking care of my youngest grandchild has been pure joy.  Poor little darling still has conjunctivitis so his mummy and daddy will take him to their local walk-in surgery tomorrow morning, for he should be better by now.   It's so contagious and thus so easily spread from one eye to the other eye; it's a real problem for little ones who simply hate having their eyes washed out, and drops are a perfect nightmare for them.

And snow this week, the first of the season for London but none in Oxfordshire the other day; in fact they had a bright crisp and sunny day.

It's raining right now and windy but we're going out for a little walk soon for I simply have to get out for some exercise, and my little grandson is cooing to himself in his cot which is a good sign.  He's slept for about an hour in the mornings until today, so I think he is getting better, hurrah!

I shall go home this evening for tomorrow morning there's more clearing out of our store unit to be done.  We still have many boxes and books to bring home, plus my Welsh dresser and even more clothes, which I really need to have with me.

Doesn't it take simply ages to get oneself organised and properly set-up in a new home?  Hopefully by next weekend I shall be more at home with myself??

And as Christmas is almost upon us, that's a good idea, hey?  Of course, the trouble with getting most presents wrapped up in November somehow makes it harder to get on with the second wave, and the cards too, which often get left until it's almost too late for them to reach their destination before Christmas Eve.  It's puzzling, like living near somewhere, yet always being late!

Now it's Saturday morning, I'm back home, having driven back last night; but I nearly didn't, and this Post has not been published?  And Friday has whizzed past.  It was a lovely busy day, looking after my youngest grandson, taking him to see the family doctor and playing with him in the afternoon; after lunch and his post-nap snooze.  Then I finally decided I must  drive home rather than Saturday morning, for there are many things to do this weekend - more settling in, you understand.  The drive home would be exciting for I'm still new to London driving, and it's like a new experience every drive; the journey is never the same, and I do so love driving! It's sooooooo thrilling and I have masses of opportunities to catch up with.  My only worry about going was getting my car out of the wonderfully small space my dear son-in-law had manoeuvred my Mazda into earlier in the week, and he was off to a post-work leaving-do  Now I am getting better at this parking lark but the only empty space opposite their house was, to my way of thinking, just a little too small and frankly I was scared stiff of bumping into the cars in front and behind of me as I endeavoured to fit into the available space.  So what did I do, well I chickened-out and my dear son-in-law parked for me?  A brilliant solution it was, until of course, I had to leave!!

In the end, it was not a problem driving away, for the owner of the car that had been in front, had obviously decided he needed to be elsewhere, and his removal left a few more inches for me to use and, hey presto, I was able to extricate myself, all by myself!  And the homeward journey was perfectly trouble-free, if a little windy in places which caused me to slow down, for my little car very easily and freely moves sideways in the wake of a good stiff wind.  Ah well, I like to vary my speed and to move across into the slowest lane for a while is very conducive to my peace of mind.  I do like speed driving but being a fairly new driver, I'm very conscious of the effect this forward motion has on me!

So here I am, at my keyboard again, and eating my breakfast with regular milk instead of my lacto-free milk which, in the rush to leave London, I left behind.  Bother, must go shopping after we've gone to the auction where I'm hoping to find a shelf unit or small coffee table.

And the ironing needs doing!!!

Cheerio
Daisy
ps have you seen my extra pages?

Off to London again....

well, we did construct my Ikea wardrobe again today, at least most of it, now just the doors, two more drawers and more shelving to add; which should all be in place tomorrow - hopefully?

And of course, I've already hung up and folded up all or most of my coats, jackets, frocks, trousers and woollen, and things, into the waiting spaces and we'll collect and empty out my travelling cardboard wardrobe later on this week - and then all my wardrobe items will be gathered together again

Our book club meeting was great for we were discussing Charles Dickens and then reading our favourite portions from his various books.  So a most enjoyable and jolly evening which we kicked off with glasses of mulled  wine - delicious and so in season. Ho ho ho!

I'm off again tomorrow to look after my youngest grandchild who now also has conjunctivitis and we're all hoping he will have recovered before the end of the week and be able to go to nursery on Friday, for I've booked onto another walking tour of London, to view some of her City churches, which will be most fascinating to visit.  So I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that my darling grandson will be well enough to go to nursery on Friday?

Have you noticed my new look blog which I hope you like.  I think there's a missing link for you to use which I've not set up yet, which should enable you to comment on my content; I shall hope to sort this out soon.

And I want to add some pictures and other bits and bobs too so keeping watching this space, won't you?

Also, I had a double-negative in my notes recently - did you spot it - what a blunder!  Must be more aware of what I'm trying to say, hey!

Good night,

Daisy

Now where was I???

Ah yes, I was telling you all about my week.......OK so I've got on this walking tour of some of the churches of the City of London which I'm sure is going to be jolly interesting.  It was such a last minute booking - I was reading the previous weekend's Daily Telegraph, as you do, and the author was describing  this tour and absolutely on the off-chance I contacted the tour guide and, unbelievably, she said - "join us" !!!

And the tour is this coming Friday, so that means I can't see my girlfriend this week either; she can only be in town on Friday.  The dear girl doesn't drive, well, even I only learnt to drive two years ago; so she has to rely on her friend to get her to town.  And you know, I'm still meeting young women who cannot drive which saddens but not really surprises me, for it takes an awful lot of determination and effort to keep going out in your little car, with a good friend or instructor beside you, to get the necessary skills.  My dear SO was absolutely brilliant and my driving instructor very patient and helpful.  I was also able to drive into Oxford every  day which meant I had a great deal of driving experience before I took my test.  Phew, was I glad to pass that day?

Today, ah today, well a good walk on a nearby airfield, with Alice capering about and sky-divers floating down through the crisp morning air.  Do you know, they squeeze ten people into a small plane before soaring  high up into the atmosphere and disgorging them over the fields below.  And one chap was obviously making his descent last as long as he possibly could, and I bet once you get over the initial horror of falling out into a huge open space, it must be an enormously thrilling experience - floating downwards from the high blue yonder?  Somehow I don't imagine it's something I'm probably not going to try!

Then it was the dear SO's daughter's birthday and she wanted to visit a nearby Christmas market, so off we went and I think the cold weather must have kept stallholders away, for it was all rather quiet.  Luckily a chap was selling scrumptious toasties, which we eagerly sampled before we visited this super French Bistro, and here we  fell on a mix of ham and cheese baguettes, leek soup and chocolate eclairs, and mugs of hot latte, of course!

Now quite stupidly of me I'd left my 'phone at home and so missed an important call; and getting into the car earlier I  dropped my favourite woollen hat, that I didn't notice until we returned from our walk by which time it had disappeared - goodness knows where - so disappointing, for a good friend had given it to me for a birthday present many years ago - oh dear!

And I still had plants for a friends garden to put in, when we  returned home, by which time it was very cold and quite dark - almost gardening by moonlight, hey?  Goodness knows how many times I had to do this when my children were little?  And of course, the earth was frozen and I still had not enough  compost to bed in the plants,  so will have to finish things off next week.

Ah but to morrow, tomorrow, we shall build my wardrobe and tidy my desk and possibly even do some of my ironing; it's good to get settled in - nesting I think it's called, and I'm all for it.  What say you?

Daisy xxx

Are we really here.......?

Well I guess so, but it doesn't really feel like it yet.

Three weeks in and I still don't have my wardrobe up, so my clothes are still hanging about in suit and dress carriers and my shoes are in boxes beneath the bed.  Now my wardrobe is a huge Ikea model with different hanging areas, wire baskets and wooden sliding drawers beneath a middle section for hanging shorter items.

I can even store linen and towels if I need too, which is super - everything  in one huge space.  But, it's not here yet, so my daily life is almost on hold.  The ironing has not been done, for there's nowhere to store it carefully, and I can 't find anything.

You see, the dear SO has been recovering from the kitchen build - resting you see - and last week I was in London with my daughter and her family, one of whom was suffering with an attack of conjunctivitis; and when I returned, there was paperwork to be dealt with.  I had intended to visit a girlfriend in Sussex but had to postpone that, for various reasons, and now I cannot see her this week for somehow I've got myself onto another City tour of London this coming Friday.  I simply didn't think I

Catch up day....

A day for dealing with things left behind this week.......well, they could wait, couldn't they??

Paperwork, housework, shopping and a long doggie walk for dear Alice - three times around the village field and we managed it all before it became too dark.  With the nights drawing in, we shall have to get a move on and get out there before it's completely dark.  Just as long as we take her out for three walks each day, Alice will be perfectly happy!!

And this evening, catching up on the newspapers for the last two weekends because we've been kinda busy , and there is now a pile of discarded newspaper waiting to be thrown out tomorrow and, thankfully, my fingers are not covered with newsprint!

I well remember when I was daily travelling up to London for work, and sometimes wearing white cotton gloves, just how dirty my gloves were at the end of the morning's ride?  I bet you can imagine that...but you see some of us did, amazingly, wear white cotton gloves when going to London by train.

I also remember wearing my silk headscarf, on the underground, even when it was absolutely boiling and we were all gently humming with the heat; with everybody packed in like sardines!!

Mad hey, just mad!!

However not always mad...and this year, on this last day of November, I can happily say, I've actually bought and even wrapped up most of my family's Christmas presents, with only one or two little gifts still to find.  Even my darling daughter is amazed at this state of things, for she is normally more organised than me, but she has been extra busy this year, with two lovely little boys to care for, her husband to feed and an interesting job to cope with.

Walkies time again, for Alice is pacing the carpet pile and giving me long mournful glances.  Hey ho and off we go again.

Cheerio

Daisy

There and back again?

Last Sunday morning I got the call all Granny's love - please, please will you come and look after the children, sick with conjunctivitis?

And of course, one is mentally packing even before the 'phone goes down on its cradle.  Ah ha, the cradle, and the hand that rocks it, and the pleasure and the joy which comes from being the hand chosen to help in a time of family emergency.

Apart from coping with a sick and much loved grandchild and supporting your grown-up children, you are given the chance of cuddling the youngest members of your family and isn't that wonderful?

Our children grow up so quickly, it's shame not to hug them as much as possible, and little boys in particular, seem to get to that stage fairly quickly, and then you have no chance of hugging your little darlings.  And grandparents and grandchildren can bond so well and have so many glorious times together.

Getting up to London was a sore trial, for there was a motorway accident to cope with which kept us drivers waiting for an hour to actually get on to the road; and then the delay of getting past the scene of the accident, where we were waved quickly forward.  Then lashings of rain all the way up to London's boundaries, when it suddenly ceased to be a problem.  Driving through the crowded streets was interesting and challenging and, ultimately, rewarding

And here I am again, at home, drawing breathe after playing with track and trains, watching favourite DVDs, reading Thomas The Tank books, and taking trips to the swings and climbing frames in the park.  Phew - but what fun!

Byeeee,



Daisy

New beginnings with love

Yesterday twin baby girls were born to the family and today they were taken home by their Mama and Papa and their big brother and I was there to see them on their way home.  They were squeaking a little  bit and their Mama couldn't wait to get them home to bed and to rest as well, but it was so lovely to see them and now I can't wait to hold them.  Perfect, just perfect.

And for our new beginnings at home - today the dear SO cooked his first roast lamb joint in our new kitchen.  His roast potatoes are absolutely wicked and oh boy, does he cooks a mean roast dinner.

All my Christmas presents have been posted off to Australia, the last one went today, and I'm just wrapping up the last home presents this evening - hmmmmm!  It's not my usual method, getting everything done so early, apart from the posting parcels, but, and but again, this year there's a few other things to be getting on with.  I mean to say, we're down sizing, moving into this new property; I expect you realised that and frankly, it's every bit as hard as I knew it would be.

We all buy the things we see and want, those little knick-knacks we earnestly desire the moment we spy them on a store shelf, not to mention the magazines we all drawl over.  Yet not only do we buy these things because of a want, but also because of our  experience of  a deep seated  need to buy and possess all kinds of objects, clothes, books, to antiques , jewellery...well, whatever really.  I mean whatever takes our fancy...don't you think?  And quite often we spend considerable amounts of cash buying these yearned for delights, the likes of which are absolutely guaranteed to make our lives perfect in every way, or so we totally convince ourselves?

And yet, and yet, sooner or later our hoard of utterly unliveable-without possessions gang-up on us, turn the table, so to speak, and possess us.  By the time we realise this attachment, we're hooked, line and sinker, and the very thought of dispossessing ourselves, their tentacled grip is virtually impossible to ease; and of course, there's that valley of sadness  engulfing one at the veriest mention of the words "clear out" and "recycling bins".

For years now I've been endeavouring to build a wall of possessions about me to protect me against the winds of aloneness, self-determinism and "I can-buy-so-why-not" bravado, with my children looking on and urging restraint, throw-away remarks and constant encouragement along the lines "you'll feel so much better and lighter without all these things clogging up your life!"  I did eventually manage a few good attempts to de-clutter my life and persevered beyond their wildest imaginings.  But now it's come to a point where I simply have to de-clutter all over again, and it's a very difficult learning curve to climb.

Today, however, a dear girlfriend told me an amazing thing.  She had just built five large mountains of precious possessions and arranged for their removal, and now she's contemplating relieving herself of even more clutter.  And this dear lady has, in a full and resourceful life, managed to amass an enormous amount of cherished possessions - clothes, shoes, handbags, china, books, videos and knick-knacks + more and more!.  Yet she has done something quite exceptional believe me, so...if she can, then so can I, if I really have to; and I do believe this is the time to go forward with bright confidence and begin to re-energise my capabilities and offload some or all, of my mostly unused possessions, while the spirit is willing within.

I bet you'd agree if you could, hey???

And it's never too late is it?  Tomorrow is just a few short hours away and, after I've walked Alice and checked my emails and Facebook page, I think I'll retire for the night and have another new beginnings day tomorrow and take it from there!  I mean, who knows how far I'll get on with determination, bravado and
a good strong breeze behind me.

I'll keep you posted........Daisy x

Ah ha, 'tis the season to be......

wrapping presents and making ones own gift tags, even presents and decorations, and today I made time to wrap up presents for family overseas, and finding none of my tags over from last year - doesn't one always buy too many.  You keep them safely for the whole year, only to discover when you finally go to use them, that you simply cannot find them.  Isn't that so, hey??

So, having card, a photograph, a Stanley knife, and good thick cutting board, I embarked on the sometime difficult task of creating an own individual  and unique Christmas item.  I'd been in all day awaiting delivery of books which, ultimately didn't arrive, for some unknown reason, leaving myself with very little time to find something suitable in the nearest shopping experience, a large supermarket store, and unfortunately for me, although they had seasonal greetings cards and chocolates and tins of festive biscuits, not any present tags, which is how and why I came to design and make my own.

And actually, they're not bad!

Monday evening was my book club get-together and after arriving late, had a thoroughly enjoyable discussion of this week's book - Claire Tomalin's, Charles Dickens -  A Life, which came out last year.  I've only managed to consume about a dozen pages but already I'm finding it a brilliant read.  We shall carry on our discussions next week too, for several members were unfortunately detained elsewhere.
I'd taken a couple of critical observations of the author and her book to our meeting and read out bits of them, which was fun; and at home I was keeping back a newspaper article on the latest film version of Great Expectations which is out any day now.  I must say, I'm really looking forward to viewing it and comparing it to that wonderful earlier film with Edith Evans as Miss Haversham and John Mills as Pip.  In this latest offering, Helen Bonham Carter is cast as Miss Haversham.  I'm quite a fan of her performances - did you see her in A Room with a View, wasn't she good?  And I must tell you, I have the very slightest connection with the accomplished actress, for many years ago, as a Young Conservative, I'd danced at a masked ball held in the Bonham Carter's family home in West Sussex.

My fifteen minutes of fame??

Monday and Tuesday day light hours were exhausted by organizing my change of address notifications to family, friends and all and sundry, waiting for books to arrive and walking Alice.  And today we had so much rain, it was good to be having to be on hand for my book deliveries, even if they didn't arrive!

Perhaps tomorrow they will?

The dear SO's daughter was flooded out of her house today, and her neighbours too.  Thankfully, not too greatly, but certainly enough for them to seek a home elsewhere, while the waters subside and their homes dry out, and repairs put in hand.  Amazingly, I'd no idea so much rain had fallen and it just goes to prove, how localised our weather systems can be.

Tomorrow, it's posting day, if I can get out, of course. and  if not, He will have to post them for me; and my parcels for Australia.

A busy day again, I think....and we're still moving furniture into our new home and sorting out parcels of forgotten objects.  He's fervently hoping I'll find more "stuff" to squash down into his vacuum-condensed bags.....isn't down-sizing an awful bore?

Cheerio,

Daisy

Hi there.....I'm back again!

My London Walk to view some of the Livery Companies in the City of London was immensely satisfying, and very enjoyable.  An English Heritage Members Only event and hosted by a most affable and knowledgeable chap, we walked our way from St. Paul's Cathedral, to Cheapside, on to Gresham Street and then to Basinghall Street, finishing back again on Cheapside.  We viewed some ten or so Livery Companies and our guide provided a short potted history on each one, as we marvelled at the buildings' decorative features and questioned our leader on particularly interesting thoughts and ideas.

We had the most glorious late autumn weather, warm, bright and sunny, and the City was buzzing with  life, with polished chauffeured cars patiently waiting for their suited and booted occupants from business meetings and gatherings.

And I found Bow Lane off Cheapside, from where my maternal grandfather sold boots and shoes.  I've not been able to ascertain whether it was his own shop, or just a rented property, but I shall be following up on his history again fairly soon now, and hoping to discover more of his life story.

However, I also follow the events of my own generation and our children, for it's good to look forward as well as backward onto the lives of previous generations, and I  must say it all keeps me pretty busy.
I'm also very fortunate in that I have three sets of grandparents, two maternal and one paternal set, for my birth mother died when I was just five year's of age, and when my father re-married, I acquired a stepmother.  My goodness, family connections can become very complex, don't you think?

And here's a thing which is becoming annoying, rather than complex, and that is the inability to remember or recall, the name of something you've known all your life.  This happened just recently and when after much thought and research I still couldn't come up with a name, I asked my sister, who luckily did know.  The things name I couldn't think of was the well-known plant  Montbretia, and also called Crocosmia, which my sister thought  was a new name but that isn't so, as I've since discovered.   Like every other plant, it has a variety of names, depending on local and worldwide custom. I've now discovered that it's  called  Coppertips or Falling Stars in the United States.  I'm not too sure about my ability to keep two names in my head, let alone four, so to help me remember, I've decided to institute an on-going list on my kitchen blackboard, just to keep the information readily to hand.

And my second list addition is the term Mass Observation, which was the phrase coined for the national  record keeping of people's daily lives during and after WW2, when our Government needed to know how citizens reacted to events of that time. Now we are both very interested in that period of our  history and have many books about WW2, so the phrase is well known to us; until we forget it, of course!!

No, no, we're not losing our marbles...just rather too busy with our renovations and decorating and removals which, my goodness are keeping us very occupied just now; and our heads are full to over-flowing with ideas buzzing about, rather like bees around a beehive homing in with their catch of nectar.


Cheerio....Daisy

Moving Times....

Well, here we are at last....our new abode, and doubtless in time it will become our new home, and we shall become accustomed to living here.   For a period!

But my goodness me, the last week has been a whirl of activity, you'd never guess just how busy we've been?

I have a great many interests and hobbies and, being me, I've always found it expedient to keep l my various activities neatly separated into all manner of bags and carriers.  Then last year I'd bought myself a huge wicker basket, the size of an old-fashioned travelling trunk, into which I'd crammed as many of my carrier bags as could possibly be squeezed in.  Thus when it came to begin moving, I was just able to empty this lovely container and bring everything over to our new property, in my lovely little Mazda.

Of course, this meant doing a very great many journeys to and fro all day on Monday and Tuesday, and then again on Thursday and Friday.  Alas, not so on Wednesday.  His car had become troubled by an odd clunking noise on Monday, and clearly sensing something was terribly wrong, the dear SO drove over to his garage, where they proceeded to discover what had occurred to produce this very odd sound.

By sometime on Tuesday, the fault had been ascertained and they fixed a time, on Wednesday, to put it right again, as soon as possible.  And finally it was OK and drivable again...late on Wednesday afternoon!!

So there I was, trapped and without a car.  However, apart from the packing to do, I still had to keep an eye on a recent on-line purchase, which had gone a little awry; and trying to organise change of address letters for my utility companies, etc. and my friends, so it was very good to be at home.  And I wasn't a bit upset about my not being able to get out driving, and the dogs loved the extra attention and walk in the afternoon.

I was actually beginning to think we should get everything together and be able to move during this week but then suddenly realised I would not be around on Wednesday and Thursday, for I'm going up to London on a walking tour of the City of London's Livery Companies, which I am very much looking forward to.  The walk has been organised by English Heritage and we're all meeting up at Saint Paul's Underground Station on Wednesday morning, and I'm sure it's going to be a most fascinating jaunt.

Then, I'm off to the Guildhall Library to look up my maternal grandfather and great grandfather in the archives of the Cordwainers' Livery Company, for I believe their names may be recorded there as they were both boot makers.  The archive material is recorded onto microfilm, which I've never viewed before, so its all terribly exciting actually doing something very new and positive for my family history.

I shall probably have a little saunter about St. Paul's before dashing off to meet my daughter and going to collect my two darling grandsons from their nursery school.  I've not seen them for a few weeks and I'm expecting to find them quite grown since then.  They do grow up so quickly!

So with all this in mind, I simply had to put my skates on and get everything packed up and ready to go on Sunday, thus missing going to church for Remembrance Day, which was very disappointing.  I did manage to watch part of the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, on television, which was most moving and very solemn, and which always makes me cry.  I had bought poppies for all of us to wear, which we duly did.

Then somehow we loaded all our parcels, packages, suitcases, boxes, books and carriers into the dear SO's car and away he drove to our new property.  I still had the dogs to walk and to put in some heather and cyclamen plants, plus springtime bulbs, into my pots and tubs, currently nestling in a friends's garden.  By the time I reached our new home, it was dark, very  cold, and a bit damp.  As you might imagine, I was awfully pleased to get inside and sit down with a mug of hot tea.

And here we are, in a muddle of empty and still full boxes, and very little furniture as yet, for it's still all in store, so for the moment we're sitting on camp-side chairs and eating off paper plates.

Happy days, hey!  I did manage to get to my book club meeting tonight to watch the DVD of our latest read - Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford - which was highly enjoyable and very amusing.  Can't  wait to read Don't Tell Alfred.

Cheerio,

Daisy

All in a day.......Parcels and packages!

Books for Christmas from Amazon arrived today, ready to be wrapped and sent off to Australia for my son and daughter-in-law; and He had parcels of new parts and bits for our  new television service and tomorrow the aerial man could turn up early to sort out why the old one was not fit for purpose.

And today I've been to-and-fro in my trusty MX5 (British Racing Green) with packages and baskets of stuff of mine, getting it to our new property, our soon-to-be abode for a while.  Alice has been with me sometime, but then she was left with Him while I went back for another load.  It was fun and it really felt as if things were getting moving.  We're more than perfectly happy where we presently are, in a lovely 17th century village house, but as we need to be elsewhere, it's best that we get ourselves into our new home for the winter,, before the snow comes.

And before that happens, I need to get myself some gripper attachments for my boots, for I'm awfully good at falling over in the snow, always have been, and that just puts one out of action for a spell.  I've even actually slipped and fallen over a puddle of magnolia petals one year when taking Hank out for his walk; and nursed a bruised and swollen ankle for a good week afterwards.  And who is Hank, I hear you chorus, well, Hank was my daughter's dog but when she went off to university, I took on his care and daily walk routine.  He lived to the grand old age of fifteen years and was a smashing dog.

More parcels, birthday this time for the dear SO's youngest granddaughter and one more parcel for me, because I bought myself a new winter coat today...yipppeee!

Turkey talking got me three fresh birds to freeze for Christmas time, with two just fitting very snugly into our new freezer and the third in the 'fridge tonight, awaiting collection, from another family member who's going to store it at her home.  I could only get so near to the butcher's shop, in my little car, so the butcher's boy had to help me carry them.  This, of course, enabled him to have a  quiet ciggy on his return walk...and a breather, of course!

Well tonight we had a super supper of roast pork and apple sauce, lovely crispy roast potatoes and masses of fresh vegetables, and as I'd eaten very sparingly throughout the day, and so to had everyone else, we all had a smashing feast for the end of a very busy day; all cooked to perfection by the dear SO...he's a very good cook.

His first chore for the day was to fit our new wooden loo seat...it looks smashing, and then off he went to his hairdresser, and then to lunch with his daughter, while I was dashing about the town collecting my turkeys, returning some flat net dryers for my woollen jumpers and cardigans and walking Poppy and Alice.  Which was fine but...my telephone was not working, so of course, I didn't know where He was?

Also not working for me today was my Internet connection and I'm not really sure why not, but our lives are a little topsey-turvey right now, with the renovating and alterations, so I guess I'm just a little jumpy and I do believe my computer is simply playing me up.  The nerve of it!!

While He cooked, we watched some early TV and read today's newspapers, enjoyed a very nice G and T cosily relaxing in the sitting room and I flipped through my new magazine, which had earlier plopped thru' the letter box with the morning's mail.

Cheerio

Daisy

Downton Abbey riding high!

Swell, just swell; that's Downton Abbey tonight, and....the last episode before Christmas Day.  The suspense will be just killing.  I simply don't know how we'll manage to get on without His Lordship or Lady Mary and The Dowager.  It will be awful, just awful.

Still, there's the American civil war period serial, based on real life, about two families who's quarrels and disputes have gone from bad to worse since the fathers came back from the war.  It's very exciting and as it takes place in Virginia, it makes me think of The Waltons, that series from many years ago, about a family and their neighbours, living through the difficulties of the Depression and the following years.

I absolutely loved the television series, and remember very clearly, having to wait my turn with my local library, for my chance to read the book, eventually.

It's quite shocking how another country's history seems, somehow, more exciting and romantic than that of ones own country.  Our civil war was equally dreadful and terrible as the American civil war was; well, of course, perhaps civil war, any civil war, can always be considered most extreme and most horrendous.

And just like any war, anywhere, horrendous, shocking and terrible.

I've been incredibly busy this weekend trying to sort out all my belongings, ready for our imminent move to our new property.  And believe me when I tell you, just how much packing-up I have to do.  You see, I gather things, and possessions, hobbies, projects, photographs, of course; and letters and cards, my family history, and er.......well, clothes, not to mention shoes.  So I've had to begin my packing-up early for I know all too well, what will happen if I don't?  Very soon now, the dear SO will suddenly announce, without any warning, that today is the day for our move, and well, we'll be off.  And if I'm not ready, it will be pure pandemonium everywhere.  Thus, I'm creating a little space for myself, a calm and serene oasis, to become organised before He does so!

We've had a very wet and windy Sunday but the dogs still needed walking so there we were, out on a deserted village green and on the cricket field and, luckily for me, the rain ceased to fall a little after we left the house, so it wasn't so bad after all, and the dogs had a thoroughly lovely romp.

It's Monday again tomorrow and there's a little more painting to do and more packing up and my book club - we're doing Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford - another sort of romp altogether; and, of course, it's Bonfire Night with fireworks and a huge bonfire to stand around.

So, hey ho another full day tomorrow.  Phew!

Cherrio

Daisy

Fixings....and twitchings

This morning I decided to buy a piece of dowling for my cafe curtain and from our local B and Q store, which deals with such stuff as paint and wallpaper, plumbing supplies and kitchens, as they also sell lengths of wooden poles, called dowling.  It may be used for all different applications and it is a traditional item for the hanging of lace curtains.

An older type of curtain support was the  thin plastic casing, enclosing a tightly coiled spring which could stretch to fit a chosen width, and had an eye hook at each end, which connected with a nail or something similar at either side of the window frame.  You threaded the plastic casing through the material gully casing at the top of the curtain, and then hooked the end eye hole onto your fixed and waiting wall hook. And, hey presto, your new nets were up and in place, ready to keep the world from looking into your home.

A simple, basic net curtain is not a thing of great beauty, but yet it confers privacy and respectability onto any home, and a barrier between your home life and the world beyond your front door.

And it's such a thing in many households where it's often forgotten and allowed to be overlooked, it being such a thing of seemingly small importance, and a dulled and shabby looking net curtain soon takes on an altogether different character.  It lowers the tone of any home building or life style and quickly becomes the butt of scorn and derision.

Yet as it's such a simple and easy matter to keep these curtains sparkling white and spring fresh, it's odd how some folk completely forget to launder their nets more frequently.  Perhaps for many household, the simple net curtain no longer features in their battery of household additions.  We now have blinds, both roller and Venetian, and fine muslin drapes for window dressing.  You can fill a small to medium sized window with pretty display shelves on which to stand pots of spring bulbs, small plants or summer herbs in season. White painted wooden shutters may be used to keep the world at bay and if you live in a remote area or at the top of a tall building, you may choose to dispense with window dressing completely.  Still, the net curtain is in a league of its own for dressing your window, keeping your home life secure and holding the world at large, at arms length.

And of course, there are many different types of net curtaining available today, and the simple net of yesterday need no longer hang its head in shame, for its unsophisticated beginnings.  Its history is long and worthy and its place in the home guaranteed to be visible and useful for many a household, for many years to come.

Twitching at your nets or peeking around your curtain's edge, has long produced laughter at the expense of the householder, vainly trying to see what's going on outside their home, without their presence being noticed by the world at large  I've often heard tell that folk only poke fun at people or things they secretly like or value, so therefore it seems to me, we still value and like the old-fashioned net curtain, albeit that it now comes in a variety of designs and styles; and smart enough to dress the most fashionable window space.

Long live the net curtain I say, but please ensure it's spotless and fresh and sparkling white, for any state less than this, simply will not do, for the noble and historic net of yesteryear and even today.

Daisy

A bit of everything,,,again

Good luck and  God speed for America and her rebuilding of the storm damaged states and their peoples.  Its going to be a  real challenge but I'm sure they will succeed.

Here in the United Kingdom we've had a wet and very windy autumn day and I bet it was cold and damp for those who insisted on tricking and treating for Halloween.

Yesterday was glorious, a bright and sunny,  breezy lovely day, let's hope we get more like that before our winter sets in.

Our property rebuilding work is coming along and the kitchen is almost done.  Apart from the little things that  is, of course, and I've been amazed at the amount of too-ing and fro-ing we've needed to do, to get matters sorted.  I think I've already told you about the tiles, the paste that sticks them to the walls, the  anti-porous wash needed to be applied once they are in place; then the silicone which needs to be put in place between the tile and the work top.  Well, so far so good!  Then we bought the tiles, and we thought the colour good, well that is, until, I saw them up on the walls when I arrived at the property later in the morning.

  "Oh gosh, I railed at Him", the dear SO (for clarification, I mean my Significant Other!) "they look awful!"  And they did, because the colour jarred with the cream of the cupboards and the pine work top.    But, then on Tuesday, He applied the Vanilla coloured silicone and, hey presto, the tiles looked incredibly better.  Now who would have thought that with just a little squeeze of the tube, one could transform a dull, rather unlovely looking coloured tile, into an almost perfect foil for the main coloured contenders for our new kitchen?  I was almost speechless and, let me tell you, He, who must be nameless and who often begs me to stop talking...because he's thinking, or reading or involved with a piece of technology he's trying to sort out for me, was delighted, because he'd known all along how it would be.  But then, he's been designing and building kitchens for a long time now, so He just knew it would all be OK once the silicone had been added.

I wanted cafe curtains for the kitchen window, and not net as most of our new neighbours to be have, and gingham curtains to boot, in a dramatic shade of scarlett.  We've got these sorted but to buy a good looking pole to support my curtains has been rather a drama, which is still not sorted out.  Apparently, wooden poles    
are not readily available for our purpose and we may end up with wooden dowling if we're not very clever!  I'll keep you posted.

Now it's going to take about a fortnight for my curtains to be made and because I don't want an unadorned window for that length of time, today I bought several brightly coloured pink and red winter cyclamen plants
and two ruby-hued  heathers,to sit in nice planters on our window-sill.  And they look very good indeed, and with the roller blind pulled down a little lower, we are just fine and dandy.

But, I must tell you, I'm really enjoying the whole process of making our new property look good and  fit for purpose.  It's taking much longer than I'd supposed, and much more time consuming, but, oh the joy and fun of making sure each separate entity fit in well with its neighbour.

Bring on the next project, please!!

Well, goodnight everybody, wherever you are, and be safe.

Daisy

Hello there!

We've been off-line so I have not been able to follow up on my Superstorm Sandy blog of Monday,
 before now.

Thank goodness I can now do so!

We here were all horrified by the pictures flashing before us on our various screens and much saddened by the number of fatalities the storm caused.  Our sincere condolences go out to all those whose loved ones have been lost.

My goodness, what a terrible storm it has been and obviously still is, as it has spread away from the coast and inland.  We've seen the snow-bound areas of Virginia and the Appalachian mountain range and our hearts go out to all our American cousins.

God bless all of you.  Keep safe and well and good luck to everyone.

Daisy

We're watching..

Good luck America - we hope you survive Sandy and we're thinking of you now, and praying for all of you
tonight.

God bless you all

Daisy

News.......

Hi there, Daisy calling.  Hasn't this week simply flown by and, goodness knows,we've been busy at our new home to be,, and quite soon now!  Don't you just hate moving, and packing everything up, then losing things because you can't put your hand on the list you've drawn up, to ensure you don't lose anything?

Well, I guess we'll be OK and settled again, soooooooon!

But to the news, which I've been following today.  Our English Ash tree is under threat from an imported disease which, unless its progress is halted and steps are taken to prevent its spread, could pose a very significantly serious threat to our island nation; a condition which needs to be dealt with, with the utmost direction and speed, for to lose the Ash tree as well as the English Elm, would be he most awful disaster for the British Isles.

America is today facing up to a dreadfully alarming storm which is about to break on its east coast and I wish all our American cousins good luck and a safe deliverance from its damage.  I do sincerely hope all those living within its projected area on impact, heed their national and local government warnings and remove themselves and their families to a place of greater safety for the duration.

Good luck and God speed to all concerned and be safe.

So our clocks have gone back by one hour and we're all out of time today.  Soon the mornings will be darker later, our days will shorten, and the air become decidedly colder, at least here in the northern hemisphere, as the world hurtles towards the mid-winter festival, which thankfully we all celebrate in our own individual way.  My son in Australia tells me it's still cold, when it should now, by rights, be coming warmer and staying  so, but when we Skyped the other morning, the rising sun was obscured by some low lying cloud, and it looked very dull indeed.  I do hope the weather improved later on?

Christmas plans and menus are being drawn up and folk are posting Amazon lists to one another, but there's still time, so don't panic just yet.  And I always find it so interesting to watch as the affairs of nations and peoples continue to resolve themselves right up to, seemingly, the very last moment. almost to Christmas Eve itself, before the world calls a halt to such matters and concerns, finally settling down to a peaceful period of family home time.

I love reading the weekend newspapers, don't you?  The holiday destinations, the food and gardening items and the fashion news, not to mention the stories, articles and individuals' interesting viewpoint columns;  and  the news.

Ah, the fashion articles and the pictures of the look of the moment, being worn at an Event or on some catwalk somewhere.  What fun for we girls, and for  the men too, for their fashion news is given just as much prominence nowadays, and isn't that good news, for all of us?

Cheerio for now

Daisy

A bit of everything!

Well, here I am back again after my mammoth painting session of last week and at the weekend, painting the hall, all by myself.

OK, it's not a big hall, actually quite a small space, which most certainly doesn't boast a gloriously high ceiling area either.  Yet still I had to get out the middling step ladder and His highest work bench to reach the ceiling for, and I believe I've already mentioned, I'm  really quite short, so to reach the  wall-ceiling area I had to stretch up on my toes.  Phew, for that meant holding onto whatever I could to steady myself....for I'm not at all happy with the idea of going above my comfort zone.

So the hall painting was more an exercise in fear control, rather like when I tried to regain my bicycling legs!  But upwards and onwards and once I'd got over my fear of heights, I really began to enjoy the work. Of course, quite a good deal of paint in spots, drips, splashes and splodges soon bedecked the uncarpeted floor, and me as well, but the sense of elation and satisfaction from doing the work was reward enough in itself.

I can't wait to paint again...have even suggested  to the dear SO that I could do  a course in painting and decorating, you know, just to be ready for the next paint job that comes my way. He naturally just laughs at me and promises there will be plenty of painting somewhere up ahead of us.  But how, when and where??

And today we've been buying tiles for the kitchen walls and behind the hob; looking at curtains - a door curtain this time which,  hopefully, will keep out the noise of people walking up and down the stairs to the properties above us.  This for Alice, who's never lived in a flat before for,  already, she looks unhappy whenever we're in the property.

This afternoon we were trying out a whole variety of beds from hard to soft and the very softest one was absolutely heavenly.  We have a good bed at the moment but feel we need a new one for our new home.....mmmmmm well, hopefully.  I'd not had so much fun for ages, bouncing up and down on the softest bed imaginable.  What a lark!

And curtains?  Well we've chosen the curtains for our sitting room, lovely rich wine coloured ones which, I have to confess, were rather His choice, for although I loved the richness of the colour, I was of the opinion it would overwhelm its surroundings.  But hey ho,  we're set now and, because of that, I've been able to choose scarlett gingham cafe style curtains for the kitchen where I no they'll look gorgeous!

And...at complement the  gingham, I've chosen a very pretty scarlett wooden clock to sit in the "quirky" antique corner of the kitchen, along with the blackboard and, hopefully, some lovely wooden mug racks I have my eye on?


My children and I are already into swapping Christmas present ideas and sending out Amazon Wish Lists to each other and, my goodness me, the days will pass by all too quickly.  But, don't we all just love our seasonal festivities?

Cheerio for now

Daisy xxx

A second Man-Booker Prize for Hilary Mantel

Her book "Bring Up the Bodies" is very good and I've no doubts as to why she has won this prestigous prize for a second time.  What a splendid achievement.

Wolf Hall was excellent but her second book of the trilogy is certainly better; I can't wait for the third and final part.

My computer has been playing up which is why I've not written much this week.  Hopefully, it's sorted out now - I do really want it to be user-friendly!!

We've been painting like mad and He's been finishing off the kitchen, well, almost, and with the carpets going down on Monday, I've got to get a move on with the fiddly paint work, for I don't want to be wielding a paint brush or roller with the new carpets underfoot?

Now it's curtains that are bothering me, for I simply cannot find anything which I really like and which fit the windows.  I did find some lovely Laura Ashley cafe-style kitchen curtains which I'm considering but it's those for the sitting-room that are taking the time to find..

And I'm supposed to be sorting out our account bills and invoices, for it's my job to keep an eye on
expenditure but then I'm also the gopher, the "daily" and the curtain finder - it's a busy life.  I shall be jolly glad when all the work's done and dusted and I guess the dear SO will be too!

That's all for now folks, for  I must read a little before going to sleep,

Goodnight

Daisy

ps The newspapers are full of interesting titbits to talk about but the renovation comes first - I guess there will be other newsy items later to discuss with you?

ps and I found a typo in my last blog - silly me!

What a good read...

We're reading Hilary Mantel's book "Bring Up the Bodies" and it really is a very good read.  It's her second book in the proposed trilogy about the Tudor's reign in England and this second book is about the career and life of Thomas Cromwell.  The first book "Wolf Hall" is on Henry V111 and presumably the third book will be on Anne Boleyn.

Now quite frankly, I think the Tudors have had an awful lot of material written about them, and they're on television and they're part of the very fabric of our national consciousness but, and it really is rather a little but, I do believe somebody should write about another family of the ruling class, say the Plantagenet's, who I firmly believe, would provide a very satisfactory account of themselves.

Perhaps I should have a go....well, perhaps not me, just yet, but definitely somebody should.

We had a very entertaining book club meeting tonight and I've got my homework to prepare for next Monday, which I must make time to do.  As the "new girl" I really cannot expect to be taken seriously by my fellow readers, if I'm not prepared to put in the hard slog?

Our renovation work went very well today, done by Him, and my painting is coming along a treat.  There are, of course, still much unfinished areas awaiting a good coat of paint so I cannot be complacent, so I must be off early again tomorrow morning to get on with my allotted work.  And I do prefer the painting to the accounts work which I have taken on as part of my duty as works foreman..... somebody's got to do it, haven't they?

The dear SO's granddaughter with her friend called in this afternoon for a chat and a cup of tea, and then other friends called in to see the how the work is progressing, and I had to read my book for tonight's meeting; and then on Radio 4, this morning, we had a reading from a new book on Lady Nancy Astor who had been Nancy Langhorn before her first marriage.  I'm looking forward to hearing a second reading tomorrow morning.

And now frankly my dear reader...I simply must stop writing and retire for the night!

Daisy

I only went in for ....

one or two things such as chipolatas, good pork ones to go with the roast partridge and some red current jelly, and dog food for Alice, yet I ended up with two huge carrier bags full to the brim with all sorts of goodies.  Only I couldn't find red current jelly and bought Cumberland Sauce instead.

But let me explain, and then you'll understand.  You see yesterday, my sister, gave me two brace of partridge and  I thought, as you do, oh goody, we'll have ourselves a smashing game supper for Sunday evening, before Downton Abbey.

So I wrapped the birds in bacon and placed them gently on a bed of mixed vegetables and sliced red onions, over which  I poured some very hot stock, before placing the roasting tray in a prepared oven and set the timer for a good 45 minutes.

Of course, I did cheat a little by buying frozen croquette potatoes, and lovely sweet parsnips, but I redeemed myself slightly by chopping up a whole Sweetheart cabbage and thickly slicing some fresh carrots.  And to the gravy I added a generous teaspoonful of Cumberland Sauce, a beautifully silky smooth dark rich sauce.

The partridge actually cooked for a little longer than 45 minutes but they were still OK, thank goodness, and the potato croquettes were scrummy.  We also enjoyed some pickled red cabbage and a jar of delicious quince jelly.

I just so love quinces, English quinces, that is, of course.  I guess the Spanish quince has its charms and admirers but I find they have a very cotton-woolly texture and are almost quite without that wonderfully potent aroma of the English quince.  Just try leaving one quince on a table in a warm but cooling closed kitchen overnight and find yourself quite entranced by the delicious scent that assails your  nostrils as you open your kitchen door next morning - divine!

Another amazing aroma comes from a hyacinth plant left overnight in a closed living room, or kitchen.....it's utterly dreamy and you're quite knocked out by the plant's perfume.  I know I always am.

Well, I must say, Downton Abbey was rather shocking tonight and we're all terribly saddened by what happened...it weas just too awful.

Its back to painting tomorrow and then my book club and then painting madly for the rest of the week so that the carpets can be laid on the following Monday.

And my goodness, they tell me Christmas is only a few weeks away.  Oh my gosh, how time flys by when you're busy doing things!

Cheerio
Daisy

Birthday cake baking...

He went home early from the property, having fiddled with the new taps in the kitchen, which are still not right.  It's the hot tap, actually, which is being awkward, with a very intermittent output of hot water.  I think these little difficulties are just so trying, don't you?

So, down to baking, a cake for my sister's birthday, and a new oven to use.  So a test run first of all, for all ovens vary in their little ways, and an oven currently being used elsewhere, is a very hot oven and chocolate cakes always require a little less time anyway, without being cooked in a quick or hot oven.

It's a fan oven, which is good, and I choose a lower temp. than normally used, just in case; in any case, I'm baking a vanilla sponge because I'd forgotten to buy more cocoa power (!) silly me, and I shall cover it with chocolate icing and for its filling, strawberry jam.

And it bakes w ell, fairly quickly, and it turns out well too, so all is well.  I make the icing, spread it over the filled and layered cake, and decorate the whole with sugared flowers and, hey presto, I have my sister's birthday cake.

I've already made another cake earlier on, just to check on oven matters, and my very first cake, in my new kitchen, will be for weekend visitors!!

This morning, I made him show me, again, how to check my tyre pressure, oil and water, and once I've set up the Sat-Nav, I shall be ready for my little journey this afternoon.

Before that, of course, the dogs need to be walked, and there's an auction to attend
too, so a busy morning and, thank goodness, it's his turn to cook supper.

There's also the Korean GP to be watched, my book "Bring Up the Bodies!"by Hilary Mantel, to be read for our book club meeting on Monday and I'm still in the process of drafting my latest family researches; and there's always the Diary to be filled in, phew!

So I'm off.  Have a good day, wherever you are, and enjoy your weekend?

Cheerio

Daisy

Watercress days

It's delicious, which I suspect you already know and, like me, you've been eating this lovely green and peppery salad leaf plant for years?

No, really no?  Well then you should, because it's good for you and your body.  Apparently, it contains a higher percentage of vitamin C than oranges and provides the body with calcium and iron.

And  what's more, it really does taste delicious, just as it is on its own, in a salad, as a separate item with a meal where it provides a lift to a simple meal and refreshes the palette, and it makes the most delicious soup on its own or even mixed with other vegetable items, such as, potatoes and, according to the television programme last night, tastes good mixed with peas for a different mix.

The TV programme on traditional British food covered such items strawberries and watercress last night and featured top British chefs discussing the good things about these two items and why they should be eaten, and more often and how we should ask for our chosen favourite (for strawberries), and for the watercress, how sales have fallen dramatically - I mean, we are simply eating less and if we are not careful, we could lose this splendid item altogether from our food choice.

Watercress is grown at Arlesford in Hampshire, where the Watercress Line train service chuffs to and fro, in a very attractive part of the countryside, feeding passengers with scrumptious food, including their special watercress soup recipe.

The journeys are a delight for adult and child alike and I remember my children thoroughly enjoying our time on the train, many years ago.

So, eat up your watercress, please do, for its an ancient product which deserves to be saved from extinction.

And it's very readily y available in supermarkets everywhere!

I've had a really good day today, organising things, doing lots of painting and then cooking a jolly nice pork casserole - mmmmmmm yummy.

And more painting tomorrow but, I also have a birthday cake to bake for my sister and I shall cover it with chocolate Ganache for Saturday.  And me oh my, Saturday is going to be very busy for we have an auction to attend, the Korean GP will be sorting out pole positions for Sunday, and I shall be visiting my sister with her gorgeous birthday cake.

Life's good, hey?

Daisy

Paint Sticky days!

Oh the joys of painting, and some even gets where it's meant to be!  However, for me, quite a lot of it gets beneath my finger nails, on my clothes, and even in my hair?

When we drove off at the weekend, my hair was streaked white with paint but of course, it all disappeared with a few brisk sweeping brush strokes!

Luckily for use, and do you remember my telling you about it, the work gloves we found at one of our local car boot sales, yes, well they have proved to be so extremely useful?  A small sized glove which, for me, is still a little large means, for me, there is still a little unfilled glove fabric flapping off the end of my fingers which, amazingly, provides a perfect sized-wipe to scrape off the unwanted  paint spects and spots.

And I can't be the only one who gets paint everywhere, hey?

So now the pace has quickened for our painting, for our new carpets are to be laid in just less than two week's time, so it's all hands to the paint-brush for the next few days, for we really do not want to be still painting when the carpets are down.

The autumn leaves are turning  a gorgeous array of mustard yellows, limey-green, pale terracotta to deep-darkest green, and the colouring is particularly good this year because of our on-of, wet-dull-good summer days; and with the few Indian summer days we've had recently, the countryside has been looking very good.

In Wales, the white cottages nestling in the lush green hills and dales, look like cubes of fondant on a bed of green icing.  Earlier, more poetically, I was thinking of the drops of water, sparkling like diamonds, on the shaped leaves of that lovely old-fashioned plant, Achillea Mollis.  It has another country name which I simply cannot locate right now, but I will.

Ok, that's all for now, folks, for I'm off to watch a spot of TV before bedtime.

Cheerio,


Daisy

Back home....

Well here I am, Daisy and the dear SO, back from our weekend away and I've just unpacked all the luggage, put everything back where it was before we flew off, and planning to be off early tomorrow morning for we're having our kitchen and bathroom flooring laid down!

So it's back to the property renovation immediately and painting and looking for tiles for said kitchen and bathroom, Ikea to visit again, more painting, curtains to find on Ebay and...whatever else needs to be done to finish off the work we began just the other week, or so it seems to be so!!

Of course, I missed my book club meeting on Monday which was rather a shame, for we'd each planned to do some research into a Greek God of our choosing and talk about him.   I was and had in fact, begun my research  into the Visigoths who have somehow always fascinated me, those ancient peoples of Germanic stock, wandering over and about Europe and, well, I just wanted to know more?

And then, because I did him for my A-level exams a few years ago, I was going to read Keats' poem, An Ode to a Grecian Urn, which would have been fun, ah well, I guess another time will be just as fun!

For next week, we've to read Hilary Mantel's follow-up to Wolf Hall, on the Tudors and King Henry V111, who was an absolute beast, to my way of thinking.  Of course, the Tudors are totally fascinating, still, although they are always being "done" on a screen somewhere; of course, one is always supportive of Anne Boleyn and her destruction was despicable and terrifying, and the following ramifications, the fall-out from, totally upset a great many lives?  Oh dear, I shall have  my work cut-out to get a chunk of this book read before next Monday?

So the weekend was jolly good, the conversation  lively and entertaining, the wine red and the food glorious and colourful, some of which I produced, which was enormously fun for me, for it's been a long time since I've  cooked as I used to do!

Alice had some nice exercise, and we read and read, watched a little TV, and enjoyed a lovely family weekend.

Oh dear, it's bedtime again, and another early start tomorrow.  Actually, I've had fairly early starts all weekend, for I've been able to write, which flowed and positively gushed, as memory and thought coincided.  My work is not yet complete, and it will be harder to finish the first draft of my family story, now we're back home with the property to finish, and a new book to read....

There's another GP this weekend in Korea, I believe, an auction to attend and some cakes to bake?  And I thought I was rushed off my feet when I worked full-time, hey ho, life's fun, don't you think?

Cheerio,

Daisy

Off on a spree...

There I was, patiently painting and endeavouring not to get too much paint on the floor and walls when, He had a telephone call from his brother and.....5 minutes later, we're going away for a few days.

And I'd so promised myself to get all the skirting boards done and possibly some of the doors!  Ah well, that can all be done when we return, as long as it's done before the vinyl goes down!!

So a temporary shut-down and lots to tell you when I return from the wilds of England.

Cheerio

Daisy

Aha.....Ikea

Off for a spot of shopping with the dear SO for the new property, and me too?  He wanted an extractor hood for the new kitchen and a splash back, while I didn't know what I wanted?  I mean, I'd hardly thought of anything other than cupcakes and coffee, printing and posters and rushing madly about, trying to get everything done; so was a little mystified as to why we were going off when in fact, I had thought it was the painting that needed to be got on with, rather than shopping for "things".

Still the dear SO knows when I need to be taken out of myself, so off we went and when we got there, why it was like a new beginning.  And it was very exciting and seeing their second show-house really got me burning with enthusiasm for little things I'd not seen before, yet knew, quite suddenly and inexplicably, that these were the very items my heart and soul had been yearning for!

We became dislocated, no, no, I mean separated, so he got through the check-out, while I was still shopping. Then  I had to go and exchange an article for I'd picked up the display item - honestly, you'd have thought I'd done enough shopping in my life not to pick up the wrong item?  But there you are, I did, and on the way back to the pay-desk, of course, I noticed several other items I should dearly have loved to have bought; but, time was running out and he was waiting, and well, I thought, perhaps I'll keep some items to buy another day, don't you know!  Extend the fun of buying new things for this new property, and have a second outing to Ikea to look forward to.?

And we always have their meatballs and sauce, just as you do, huh, for they are rather tasty.

Actually, I used to make a recipe for American meatballs and they were yummy and, if you ran out of time to mould the mix into individual shapes, I found you could create a meatloaf instead, and serve it with a homemade tomato sauce, which was just great, and time-saving too; if you were busy with the school-run and supper and after-school activities, as I was then, well, it was very helpful and everyone was very happy with meatloaf for supper.

They could also become dinner with a tossed green salad and hot baby new potatoes sprinkled with chopped chives, or with a soured cream dressing - mmmmmm - these recollections are making me long to be cooking again!

I think I'd better hang up my apron, right now, don't you?

Farewell,

Daisy