OOOOoooooh!

Fantastic! Can hardly wait...............but I know, I must and I will. Short blog tonight, exhausted myself with the last one. Jon busy at work today and not due home just yet, it's 7.05pm. Doing some sort of complicated specialised job for a part for a rally car..... he does do a full range of job types, washing machine components, well mould tools, railway couplers, balls for crushing stones jewellery machines from scratch and now car parts..... He doesn't do car or bike jobs as a rule cos people dont like paying, they think they are doing him a favour when they give him the price of a pint, which is quite ridiculous...anyhow this time it is for somebody who competes in the British Rally Championship so it is a job of keen interest! Today has been cooler and we have had rain. I am hoping it rains a bit more as the lawn is looking worse for wear. Dx

Get yourself a cup of tea, you are going to be here for a while!

Have been doing some thinking today.... it's what I do when out on the back of the motorbike.... decided instead of just rabbiting on aimlessly I am going to make a list of the things I want to talk about and tell you.........then, if I forget where I am I will just look at the list! so.............I want to 1. Tell you how the meal went.....and my first attempt at ice-cream making! 2. My supermarket campaign 3. Review of my New Years Resolutions! 4. Update on the Garden. The Meal Great success! Although I was looking for a recipe, in the end I decided to just use what we had in. Afterall, no point in making a special journey for ingrediants. I must tell you though I had a proper blonde moment when getting the giblets out of the duck... would you believe I was trying to get them out of the wrong end! We had a great meal! The icecream was an absolute disaster! All I can put it down to is the bowl was not cold enough! We decided to have a walk to our village pub. This would be about 10.30. The pub was empty! Normally it is heaving. It is all down to te new owners. To be honest I can't see it being able to continue, it can't be making any money. Some neighbours who use to go in every week said it is just going down hill. I knew things were getting bad by the number of cars in the carpark. Normally, especially on a Sunday the carpark is full and the cars are parked right the end of the village. When we pass now there are many spaces in the carpark. The previous owners built up an excellent reputation for the Carvery. They sold out a couple of years ago and moved to a little village on the other side of the moors. Not only were we the only people in the pub, we were in effect keeping them up! It became quite clear they just wanted to lock the doors. I would have thought they needed our custom, but obviously not! We wont be going there for quite some time! My Supermarket Campaign Our local supermarket, Somerfield is closing the deli counter and will just be selling pre-packed cheese and cold meats. This has infuriated me and I have decided to launch a cmpaign. The thing is with there just being the two of us I dont buy huge portions of cheese, I just buy what we need. I do not like waste. Also I like to see the cooked meat I am buying. I am writing a letter to Somerfield and am going to see if our butcher will start selling cheese. He is going to benefit from Somerfield's brainless scheme anyway. I was thinking about this whole supermarket scam and felt I needed to be more organised. I can't keep shopping everyday...we have no bus service to the local market town which means I have to use my car all of the time, so I may start shopping via the internet and have it delivered...we'll see. Review of my New Year Resolutions This is embarassing! I made 3, and have just to say kept 1. My New Year Resolutions were as follows.......... 1. Visit Alice more often! 2. Go to church every Sunday. 3. Make our home my main priority. So 1/3..................and how do you think I feel at this moment in time about number1! The resolution I have just to say scraped by with is number 3. I have spent a lot of time thinking about Alice. One neighbour, now moved away used the words... "Well I've done my bit for Alice!" Yes they visited her more than I did, but Alice had lots of visitors and it would be naive of me to think Alice was lonely, therefore dependant upon myself. If that had been the case I would have visited regularly. The church issue. We have a lovely church but the vicar had mental health problems. As hubby pointed out........quote "It must be stressful working one day a week!" Well he has finally handed in his notice. (The vicar not hubby!) so we should be getting a new vicar soon. I can honestly say the main reason for my poor attendance of late is due to the improved weather, hence the motorbike. With hubby's work situation we can never say for definate what we will be doing. However, if the weather is nice we go out on the bike on a Sunday. Hubby tries to keep the day free, and we spend the day together...... now I think God would approve, we spend time together keeps our marriage happy. Update on the Garden! The plot for my greenhouse takes a step towards progress! Remember it looked like this.... well tomorrowI will take a photo and show the progress! Meanwhile.............look what hubby got working! We are both really excited! So.....................watch this space! Have a good week! Dx

Saturday!

A funny kind of day! Was up early as I had to take some old broken fla gstones to the council tip. I got to know the chaps there last year when I took endless loads of garden rubbish. Anyhow the long and the short of it was they would lift all of the garden stuff out for me. I used my psychology ofcourse! I told Jon I would take the pick-up on my own. When I pulled up about 5 of the council chaps all helped me......WHY? woman on her own! As the 5 big chaps emptied the pick-up I was looking around at men(alone) struggling with really heavy objects! Meanwhile....one empty pick-up! On one occasion I took 5 full loads in one day! I always took a packet of chocolate biscuits! This year the council has changed the rules regarding vans, trailors and pick-ups. Permits are issued, limit of 6 visits a year. I got a permit but just went in the car today, no permit needed. Again help received. I told them I had a permit for the pick-up and they said they wouldn't stamp it, so I can make endless journeys......providing I take the chocolate biscuits! It pays to be a blonde! Am prparing a meal for tonight and currently defrosting the duck we will have. SIL is coming over to stay. Because I cooked and froze the contents of our organic veggie box, there are no vegetables to prepare. It is another warm day so I think I will take some photographs. Dx

Sad!

I took this photograph last night whilst we were sitting on the patio. It is a close-up of the neighbours chimney. When we first moved to the village, 15 years ago the lady who lived there was Alice Jackson. The cottage, was and still is owned by Lord Downes of the Wykeham Estate in the Ryedale area, just between Pickering and Scarborough. Alice's late husband, Arthur was a farmworker for Lord Downes, the cottage went with the job. When Arthur died Alice was allowed to stay on in the cottage. She was a keen dog owner and took her love of Pembrookshire Crgis one step further and built up a reputation as a breeder and an exhibitor. Her house was full of rosettes, cups and other endless awards. Often he would phone me to let me know how she had got on... "Denise, I got best bitch!" she would cry down the phone... "Great.....how did the dogs get on?" I would joke. How we laughed. Reluctantly she took the advice of her doctor and moved into a nursing home about 5 years ago. I use to visit her, we would always laugh about the times here. I always felt I should go more...as one does! I heard this morning she wasn't well. I went to visit Alice at the first opportunity, about 4pm. I got such a shock, it wasn't the Alice I knew. I sat with her for a while and held her hand. She was always fond of a little dog toywe had bought her. I put it on the end of her bed. I left, upset and passed Jon. He pulled in and I told him, he too was upset. I came home around 6pm I decided to go and sit with her for an hour. I phoned the nursing home, Alice died at 5pm. Talking to Jon, weboth said she had a good life. She died aged 95. She had 40 years more than Harry! Dx

Ears to Friday!

We went to Whitby last night. Thursday night is Bike Night at the Whistestop Cafe... we always meet up with our friends. Jon had steak & kidney pie, chips and peas, I had a ham salad. It was great to see Enid. Her neighbour Harry(ironically) had taken her for a ride on the back of his motorbike. So many of our friends there had attended the funeral and were saying how they had found it all very moving. They all spoke with Enid and it was nice to see her smiling. We talked about our times abroad with her and Harry and had a laugh. Jon & I came home and sat in the garden sunshine. Wilma enjoyed bringing her toys for us to throw. I caught a few shots of her,I particularly like the picture below because she looks so inquisitive and intelligent! Whilst we were sitting on the patio a visitor popped in for a drink! Allotment Lady has givenme some advice re cutting and pasting so hopefully later on the photographs above will not be in a line, above or below the relevant text!.... watch this space but dont hold your breath! Update....I managed thank you my 2 great friends Allotment Lady and Leonnie! Dx

Just observe!

Eye eye!

Dont you just love obscure photographs! Yes I have been experimenting some more! I stil need to find out how to post photographs in the blog, at the moment I only seem to be able to get them at the top and not in the middle of my text....will persevere but if all else feels I will be on the old telephone to people!!!! Right, a bit to catch up on! Spent yesterday pottering and generally trying to keep cool. I had to take Jon to collect the motorbike as it had to go in for a service. He came home from work around 1.30 and it was then I started to do some camera experiments in the garden. I will just post the photographs in a new entry. On route to collect the bike we stopped off at Guisborough as Jon had to see his accountant re end of year stuff. Whilst he was busy there I just pottered round the town. It was very warm so I went into the Bookshop as it has air-conditioning! I was nearly an hour in there and had a really good look in the gardening , cookery and sale sections. I had a look at a couple of joke books and my face didn't move a muscle.....utter tosh! I also had a look in the designer clothes shop and again was utterly unimpressed with what they had to offer. We are going to a wedding in September and I want something special, so will keep my eyes peeled. I will get plenty of ideas over the coming weeks and if I have to will make something myself! Jon collected the bike we came home. I pottered round the garden and clipped here and there. I was worried about one of my tomato plants as it had withered. However on closer inspection I noticed one of the stalks had snapped, simple explanation! I guess with it being my first attempt at tomato & strawberry growing I am a bit neurotic and will gradually learn the ways and means of growing stuff with confidence, however it is all part of a learning process and I have to find things out for myself, by trial and tribulation and that is when true understanding will take place. Today I have my work cut out and as I sit here it is staring me in the face..... my study is an absolute tip and I want to tidy it up and have a good sort out! I may even have a change round of furniture! Oh how I love that! But before I start I will post some of the pictures from yesterday! Dx

and it's goodnight from him!

Pure poetry! Poetry in motion!

Monday morning!

I definately like the close-up facility on my camera! Yesterday I went to a cricket match with my sister in law & mother in law. My oldest nephew had asked me to go, it was organised by his Explorer Group. Hubby was working and had to take part of a mould tool over for welding. As it happened the BBQ at the cricket match was late, and so when we arrived and found a place in the shade the cricket match started. MIL & I had some nibbles but I could see I wasn't going to be able to stay and have something to eat as Jon was going to ring me when he was on his way home. We both arrived home around 3pm and got the motorbike out. We went over Pickering Moor, via Malton and then decided to go through Scarborough, ending up at Whitby. It was a lovely afternoon. The roads, as ever were very busy but Jon turned off the main A64 and we just tootled along. We evetually came across a sign post to Scarborough and we just followed the B roads. As we were driving along I couldn't help but notice how lovely the many villages are in North Yorkshire and how so many of them have retained the traditional village features.... red telephone boxes, cricket matches - we saw three in all, no doubt the wives/partners will have prepared a fantastic traditional tea, road side barrows of home produce, village stores - so few these days. We arrived home and had a BBQ. Rib eye steak & lamb chops + potato salad. I must say the steak was excellent and I do feel ribeye is by far the best for the BBQ. We eventually came in from the garden just before 9pm and settled down to watch "Silent Witness." Jon had a bit of a rough night, un beknown to me. He was feeling ill and got up at 4am and went for a walk up the lane. He went back to bed and got up at the normal time but was understandably tired. So a new week commences! The few days Jon thought he would be having free are now a thing of the past as he is busier than ever. Today he is working on the mould tool reapair which he has said would be ready tonight. He has also got an order in for some couplers for a railway somewhere, could be London underground. I woke myself in a panic as I realised I had forgotten to water my tomatoes last night. They were just OK, so I gently watered them a couple of times first thing! A couple had some discolouration and I have given them some epsom salts, as from the books it looked like potassium deficiency....time will tell! Normal chores today. Later this week I will be collecting my ice-cream maker via Freecycle so I want to get some recipes sorted. Oh and ofcourse I want to do some more close-ups. Dx

At last! I have figured out how to take close-ups with my camera!

Wilma!

Our other rescued and loved German Shepherd! She is 5 now. We got her when she was 5 months old. I thought I had better put her photograph here because I put Max's here yesterday. I can't be seen to have a favourite now can I? I have been asking questions about my camera as I am certail I should be able to take close-ups. Apparantly I can, so I will be doing some experimenting later on. The BBQ was rained off last night. Torrential rain, thunder & lightning! Power off again! fortunately was back on this morning. Drank more wine than I should have done and have a slight head ache. Not too bad really but I do not feel 100%. Jon has had to go to work but should be home around 3pm, so we should get out for a couple of hours on the bike. There is a rush job on, a panic at the factory, one of Jon's customers. Jon will put it right ofcourse. It is for Hotpoint and if the factory stops production Hotpoint will fine them £60,000 per hour!! I am going to pick up my ice-cream maker which I got through Freecycle, so I will get some recipes sorted. I also have to order some materials for some Orders of Service I am making for customers. A bit cooler today! Dx

Max the Weather Forecaster!

Knew first thing this morning we were in for thunder! Max has been following me around all morning. His ears have been flat against the side of his head and he has been panting. As I type this at my desk he is lying at my feet, he hates the thunder! I, like so many other people will be glad of a break in the heat, and I am sure the atmosphere will be much more pleasant when the thunder and lightning passes. It hasn't actually started thundering here yet, but from the sound of things I would say it is thundering in Whitby, so it could go out to sea, but by Max's behaviour I think we are definately in for more thunder... Jon has just said it is brightening up which will be good as we were planning to have another BBQ tonight. Maureen, Jon's sister is coming over to stay the night and Enid is coming too, so hopefully we will be able to sit outside. We have spent the morning doing jobs. Jon continued with clipping the front hedge and I worked my way through the house with the hoover and a cloth. I also put a load of washing in ready to peg it out, but will hold back just yet! I am one of those people who deliberates over hanging out the washing because of what the sky looks like, only to then go out and fill the washing line up....and when I am pegging out the very last item you can guarentee it will start to rain! Dx

Friday!

Ooh! two for the price of one! Today has been another very hot day! What is your favourite household job? Mine has to be washing & pegging outside. Because it was so warm I managed to get two loads washed & pegged outside! Gave everything a good water before the sun reached it's hottest point and moved some of my tomatoes into the shade as a couple of them were wilting. Fully recovered now! I spent a few hours on a wedding order of service and then went to the local council office to get my permit for the recycling place & tip. Because we have a pick-up we need a permit. This is to stop businesses using the site. Another chap came into the reception and was wanting a permit for his trailer. The receptionist kept saying to him.... "We are lucky to have a tip.....it's a luxury!" It got me thinking! I will be allowed 5 visits per annum. On each occasion I present my permit and it will be stamped. However I do know the chaps at the tip due to frequent visits last year, when we were allowed umlimitted visits. I used my psychology on these visits.................. Hubby chopped, we both loaded up the pick-up then I would drive it to the tip, alone. On reaching the tip I would find the council workers so keen to help me unload the garden rubbish into the skip. It was typical to have 4 or 5 helpers at any one time..... whilst all this help was being channellesd my way I could see men lugging heavy rubbish on their own.......wonder why I got the help? Blonde in a pick-up????? Anyhow I took the chaps chocolate biscuits! So I somehow think they may allow me a few more than 5 visits....the biscuits are in the cupboard! A BBQ tonight. Rib-eye steaks, mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Got some cava on offer at Tesco and wine was 20% off if I bought 6 bottles. Well, it would have been rude to let such an offer go! A nice night in store, I hope anybody reading this has one in store too! Dx

Harry had a good send off!

This picture was taken in April 2005 in the Yorkshire Dales. A typical day out with Harry! from the left, Trevor, Harry, Enid, Jon, me, Lesley and on the back table Steve & Carol! As you can see....we were always laughing! And so to today, Harry's funeral. Could not believe the much welcomed change in the weather! By all accounts the weather was going to break, but we all know how wrong the forecasters can be, but today they got it right. It is so uncomfortable wearing bike leathers in the heat, it's not so bad when you are moving, but the minute you stop you begin to overheat as you struggle to get your jacket/helmet off etc. We knew there would be some waiting around today so when we awoke to a cool, slightly overcast sky we were quite pleased! Ideal, a lovely cool breeze! Talking to Jon this morning we wondered how many bikes would turn up. We agreed 10 would be great! Our neighbours Ang & Derek, both keen bikers who knew Harry, were on our drive at 10.10am. Together we drove to Saltburn where 20+ bikes were waiting! I had made the black and white ribbon tributes and had counted 27! All went. We then drove to the end of Harry's road and waited. Trevor was riding Harry's bike. He came to the front. At the appropriate signal all the bikers reved up! It was awesome. We set off, the bikers leading Harry's coffin and the family cars. Enid in front with Trevor. As we were going up Saltburn bank I looked behind to see the whole road filled with bike headlights..leading all the way back to the cortege.... very emotional! We drove on the A174 and evetually onto the Parway. At one point Trevor put his foot down and we all followed, Enid loved it. As we approached the road that would take us to the crematorium. Kenny a pal came foreward to say one of the funeral cars had a puncture, so there would be a delay. However as we later discovered, the bikes nearest to the family cars pulled in when they realised there was a problem and changed the wheel in record time! We drove into the crematorim, parked the bikes and lined up our helmets. It's a biker thing! The cars arrived and Jon and Trevor together with the funeral bearers, lifted Harry's coffin into the chapel. Harry had lost his faith and had stipulated a humanist service........... which is what happened. We listened to Harry's chosen music, Local hero by Dire Straits.. The Way It Always Starts It gets so dark before the dawn That's when it gets to me Before the city symphony of taxi horns That's the way it always starts, Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart. Last night I thought I heard my name Well it was too dark to see, but it had to be, The voice was just the same That's the way it always starts, Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart. So tell me why should it have to be this way Why can't it be all right,Why can't I sleep at night? Why should it have to be this way? Why must there be this price to pay? Now all the streets are dark and bare, Oh, if you can live in this town, And stick around, you can live anywhere That's the way it always starts, Sitting here and waiting on the beating of my heart.

KOCKIN' ON HEAVENS DOOR(Guns and Roses version)

Mama take this badge from meI can't use it any more

Its gettin dark too dark to seeFeels like I'm knockin on heavens door

Kn-kn-knockin on heavens door

put my guns in the groundI can't shoot them any more

That cold black cloud is comin downFeels like I'm knockin on heavens doorKn

"You just better start sniffin your ownRank subjugation

Jack cause its just youAgainst your tattered labido, the bank, andThe mortician,

forever man and it wouldn'tBe luck if you could get out of life alive

Kn-kn-knockin on heavens door

heard an account of his life and I read my poem. I nearly lost it on the final sentence, but I held it together.....just. You see, it was all about the journey! If you went for a ride out with Harry, You knew it would be an event, Cos somebody out there would annoy him And his anger he would have to vent! Often it would be a car driver Who failed to let us know – What he was really thinking Which way he had chosen to go! Once Harry had spotted his error And with a shake of his head.. You knew the chosen car driver Wished he was somewhere else instead! When we would stop for refreshment Often the subject of conversation Would be about Harry’s many and varied Choice of gesticulation! When we think of Harry One thing will remain Those days out with him laughing Will come round again! Now the sun will shine forever On Harry’s smiling face, and we know this friend of ours Is speeding in another place. Too soon he left to travel beyond where we can see, remember it’s all about the journey, and now Harry rides on, Free. Enid had chosen "Simply the Best" just for Harry, this was played at the end of the service. I call you when I need you, my heart's on fire Youcome to me, come to me wild and wild When you come to me,Give me everything I need Give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams Speak a language of love like you know what it means And it can't be wrong Take my heart and make it strong baby You're simply the best, better than all the rest Better than anyone, anyone I've ever met I'm stuck on your heart, and hang on every word you say Tear us apart, baby I would rather be dead In your heart I see the star of every night and every day In your eyes I get lost, I get washed away Just as long as I'm here in your arms I could be in no better place Each time you leave me I start losing control You're walking away with my heart and my soul I can feel you even when I'm alone Oh baby, don't let go Afterwards we made our way to the pub for lunch. Several people came up to me and commented on the poem, so all in all I think Harry had a terrific send off! I was so proud to be a biker. Later on we went up to the histestop cafe in Whitby where we meet up regularly with our biker pals each Thursday night. Quite a few of them had attended the funeral and said how moving they had found it all! One pal commented we should have videod...I disagreed and with photographs. Some things are not tasteful!ful, What happened yesterday was special, spiritual and meaningful to those who took part! We were all bonded together! Most importantly, it was what Harry & Enid wanted.

Cup of Tea?

It's Wednesday and a scorcher of a day! I was up early as I wanted to do a couple of jobs to do with Harry's funeral tomorrow. I drove to the crematorium using the route we ill use tomorrow. Harry left details of his funeral with Enid. He wants to go to the crematorium with his friends the bikers, leading the way. I have been in touch with all of our biker pals and organised the meet-up tomorrow. We will meet at 10.30 am in the Ship Inn Carpark where I will give people the black and white ribbons I have made to be tied to the mirrors, Harry supported Newvastle United. We will then wait at the end of Harry's rearse comes , Trevor, Harry's best friend will drive Harry's bike, with Enid on the back in front of Harry, to the crematorium. We will all be in front, Jon and I leading the way. I have viewed the parking area and spoken to the administator at the crematorium so I will be able to tell people where to park tomorrow. I am tweaking my poem later today and practising reading it. I want to be strong when I read it tomorrow! I also want to clean our bike leathers as they are covered in flies...Harry would not have liked that! I am looking forward to sharing a cup of tea this afternoon with a friend from the "It's Not Easy Being Green" forum, http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/ Fiona and her family, from South Wales who are on holiday in North Yorkshire. I will be making strawberry teas all round. Dx

It is the start of something big!

This is the very bottom of the paddock. The area under the Sycamore tree is very shaded. The brick structure at the back of the picture is the remains of a septic tank. One idea is to fill in the septic tank with hard core and this will form the base for the shed. I could also plant my wild flower meadow here..........??? The shed is currently next to the goose hut on the main part of the paddock... where it does get light! We could move the shed, onto the septic tank area and dig over the ground currently which it is currently standing on.

So basically, on this picture, imagine the shed wasn't there and an imaginary line going across from the front of the shed would indicate the boundary of the veg plot! Yes it is on a slope but that will be our next task! Hubby is taking some time off next week, so with the help of Chris and a couple of nephews + friends we should really see progress taking place.

What's this rose?

This is in my shrubbery,no idea what it is but the perfume is outstanding! I will have to find out how to prune it as it is quite large. We have a rotovator, I amled to believe it is a Wolsey Merry Tiller. I found out by a very helpful response over on The Kitchen Garden Forum. hubby had been wanting a rotavator and we had been looking around. One of his pals was wanting to get rid of his, for a price ofcourse and so we went round to look at it last night! It needed some attention (don't they always) and after parting with £20 we made our way home with one rotavator firmly strapped into the back of the pick - up. Because the land has not been worked for over 15 years we were advised to plough it over first. Fortunately we have a neighbourhood of farmers wh o would be only too keen to do this so we will think the next plan of action through. ROCKET! I love it! Last week when I was using up my vegetable box I received some rocket....I had it in a free range egg sandwich and it was out of this world. I am going to grow some in my greenhouse. I also want to try some seed sprouts... Radish sound lovely, peppery which I love. DISCUSSION Rows or raised beds? Remember this is all new to us and I dont want to make a rod for our own back? Will do some asking about, but would welcome any thoughts. ANOTHER SCORCHER! Very hot here again, so I got all of the housework done whilst it was cool. I think I will spend some quiet time thinking about my poem for Harry and also my garden.......which is now OUR project! Dx

Fruit of my Labour!

We were so excited, it really did taste like no other strawberry I had ever eaten! We ate it on Saturday night. We had a BBQ on Friday evening and had some lovely rosemarry marinated lamb steaks, together with a burger and some pork & leek sausages. J always does the BBQ cooking and I made a potato salad to accompany the lovely meat. My organic vegetable bag arrived on Thursday andI was determined to use the veg whilst it was fresh. I cooked and froze the spring cabbage, sugar snap peas with the carrots. I had never cooked with fennel before so I had a search for a recipe and came up with this... Chicken Stew with Fennel & Saffron Recipe Ingredients 4 tomatoes, peeled, cored, seeded and chopped 2 large onions, quartered 4 garlic cloves, crushed 4 large fennel bulbs with feathery leaves attached, coarsely chopped 3 Tbsp olive oil 1/3 cup Pernod licorice- flavored aperitif 2 pinches saffron 1/3 cup fresh thyme 4 bay leaves Salt Black pepper 4 chicken legs with thighs attached, skin removed 1 pound boiling potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 cups chicken stock Instructions The day before: combine the tomatoes, onions, garlic, fennel, olive oil, Pernod, saffron, herbs and seasonings in a large covered casserole. Stir to blend and add the chicken, stir to coat the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours to blend the seasonings. At least 1 hour before you begin to prepare the dish, remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Stew the chicken in its marinade, covered, over medium heat, stirring from time to time, for about 30 minutes. Add the potatoes and chicken stock, simmer until the potatoes are cooked (30 to 45 minutes). Taste for seasoning and serve in warmed shallow soup bowls. It was lovely! The salad which came in the veg bag was from Norfolk, I was a bit miffed at this, food miles etc. However the Rocket was lovely and I can't wait to grow our own. Talking of growing our own, we are both very excited and are planning our plot. I spent all Saturday cutting back the shrubbery in the back garden, planning my pink roses, pinks, delphiniums & foxgloves for next year. J cut back all the hedges on Saturday late afternoon and all Sunday morning. We have help in the shape of Chris this week. He normally helps J at the workshop but we are soo keen to get going J has allowed me to give him some jobs.........all to help us get on with our plans. Sunday afternoon was warm and we went out for a ride on the motorbike. We went to Fimber, just outside Malton then on to Scarborough and Whitby. The roads were very busy, it was nice a breath of cooler air from the coast! Harry loved Fimber and we were talking about him whilst we were there... we remember him laughing! The funeral is set for Thursday, I am currently writing a poem to read out at the service. Dx

I am a Daffodil What Flower Are You?

Thursday!

Enid phoned last night, returning my call earlier. From personal experience I knoeel how important it is to feel supported during grief! We do not know when Harry's funeral will take place, but it will probably be next Tuesday or Wednesday. Harry knew he was going to die and had obviously discussed the final arrangements with Enid. It will be a Humanist funeral at the crematorium. We lost another good biker friend just over a year ago.. http://icteesside.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/7000digest/tm_objectid=14932377&method=full&siteid=50080-name_page.html#story_continue Ian's family requested a biker pressence and it was J and I who organised it. It was quite emotional to see a line of motorbikes leading the hearse to church. Harry and Enid took part in the ride and Harry had found it very fitting.... he wants the same! So throughout the day I will be contacting as many of our friends as possible and make provisional arrangements, until we know the definate date. We will meet at a local carpark and then all ride to Harry's house and escort him on his final journey to the Crematorium. We will wear black and white ribbons for Harry, he supported Newcastle United! Still, I guess he couldn't get everything right! Do not stand at my grave and weepI am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousands winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush,I am the swift uplifting rushOf quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there. I did not die. Mary Elizabeth Frye - 1932 If Death is Kind Perhaps if Death is kind, and there can be returning, We will come back to earth some fragrant night, And take these lanes to find the sea, and bendingBreathe the same honeysuckle, low and white. We will come down at night to these resounding beaches And the long gentle thunder of the sea, Here for a single hour in the wide starlightWe shall be happy, for the dead are free. - Sara Teasdale

Harry is now at Peace!

Our dear friend Harry died at 4.30 this morning, after losing his fight with cancer. With us being out for most of the day our friend has just told us. Enid his wife will be lost! Dear Harry, Goodnight and God Bless! Dxxx

Oh What a Perfect Day! I'm glad I spent it with You!

Change of plan today! I had seen this foxglove last week at the garden centre and had thought about it for a whole week. The Garden Centre http://www.klondyke.co.uk/index.htm is quite expensive, but I told myself the £9.49 for the plant would be money well spent as I can take seeds from it and have many more next year............so first thing this morning off I went and bought it. It just to say fit inside my car. When I got home hubby was home and due to a change in his work schedule he found had a few he hours to spare. We discussed the Lakes but I just wasn't keen.....I was thinking about the garden. In the end we decided on Plan B. We would go and talk to Stokesley Lawn Mower Services about a rotivator for the preparation work to be done in the paddock for our vegetable plot, and then go onto Easingwold, just outside York to see what they had in store. This is the place where we got our sit on mower a few years ago. So off we went. First stop, Stokesley. Had a great chat with one of the chaps. He had a Honda Rotivator and couldn't sing it's praises enough. As we have 2 honda motorbikes hubby was quite keen. The chap then went on to tell us all about his allotment. It was just great listenino to him and also to hubby who was saying how we want to get into vegetables and the possibility of digging over more of the paddock depending on how well it all goes. This was music to my ears. We then had a lovely drive over to Easingwold. I was doing quite a lot of thinking on the bike, all to do with the garden. I have decided to do some work on the shrubbery in the back garden. I have been reading quite a lot of books lately and one picture which really inspired me was a bed of delphiniums, foxgloves, lupins and roses...all in various shades of pink.... I am going to move the shrubs that are curently there, to various locations round the plots and replace with the above...the scent will be lovely and I can sit in the chair which I will have next to my greenhouse and smell the fragrance and just look at the shere beauty! Back on the bike we arrived at Greens and had a look round. There wasn't many people around, they were at the Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. However the assistant showed us a secong hand rotavator and we left our phone number, they will contact us in a couple of days when the bosses return from Harrogate. Apparantly it doesn't work which is just up hubby's street. We found a lovely little tea shop/bakery and had ham salad sandwiches and creamcakes together with a lovely cup of tea. Pleasant drive home and now just catching up with what's been happening! I can pat myself on the back too. When I visited the Garden Centre I did think about buying another duck...............but resisted! 3 is a nice number! Dx

Garden Inventry 1

As promised, I have been out this morning and made a comprehensive list of all shrubs/flowers & trees in our garden..................... Front Ornamental Cherry Tree Hawthorne hedge Holly Tree Shrub area Ornamental Grass Lady's Mantle * Aquilegia * Hedge/Shielding at side of house Small boxptype shrub, very overgrown Elder tree x 2 Horsechestnut Tree Sycamore Tree Lilac In back garden 3 pine Trees Various conifers...dwarf??? 2 established older apple trees 1 younger apple tree (Discovery) Laburnum Tree Perimeter Hawthorne May Blossom? About 20 damson/plum trees Shrubbery Euphorbias Escallonia.Crimson Spire? * Hydrangea - Macrophyllia? * Yellow Rose - not sure of name * Lady's Mantle * Flowering Currant Periwinkle Sedums Laurel Spirea Patio/Kitchen area Tomatoes * Strawberries * Geranium * Varigated Ivy * Lavender * Rosemary * Chives * Primulus - many of * Violas * Pansies * Basil * Peppers * Rhubarb * Mint Thyme * Dry Stone Wall at side of Drive Various succulents * New plants this year...... 2 New Dawn Roses * 1 Delphinium * 1 Ceonothis * * Denotes plants I want to split/propogate for next year.

Tuesday!

Every day I receive a reminder from the link below and just by following the links provided and by clicking in the appropriate place I help fund mamaagrams for underprivelaged women. Yes there are sponser sites but there is no need to purchase anything, just click on the appropriate pink bar! Talking of pink.....I want some pinks in my garden and from them I want to take some cuttings for propogation. I also want to propogate my lavender, hydrangea and fuscias. I think I will do my inventry today so I can list everything of interest in our garden. from this list I will be able to make a list of everything I want to propogate/take cuttings of or split. Hubby is very busy at work so it looks as though the greenhouse foundations wont be dealt with just yet. I am not too disappointed, just a little bit. The fact of the matter is J is the breadwinner and part and parcel of our new lifestyle is his work has to come first, otherwise there wouldn't be any money available. On the upside of him being self-employed is the next time he isn't busy we are going to go over to the Lakes for the day, so that will be something to look forward to. The veg plot is still a matter of conversation and we are both really excited about it all. Talking to a neighbour yesterday, he offered J the use of his rotivator so this is great. J has a lad who works for him so he is going to put it to him today...to help J rotivate & prepare the plot. Join The Breast Cancer Site's "Chain of Hope" by spreadingthe word to friends and family about this free and easy wayto make early detection and survival of breast cancer possible for women in need. Click here:http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/TellAFriend The number of people who click on the "Fund Free Mammograms"button determines the amount of free mammograms we make possible for women in need. By using your own voice to helpraise awareness, you give help and hope to those with nowhere else to turn. Thank you for your support!

Possibly the best Quiche you have ever tasted dear!

are the words I spoke to hubby! I used up all of the double cream left over from Apple Flapjack Trifle! Just with 4 eggs & mature cheddar + organic onions. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Planning yet drinking some champagne............................. ahemmmmmmmmmm any highly intellectual thoughts I had have gone................. will make a note and post tomorrow! Dxxxxx

Good News on the Tomato front!

All is well with my lovely tomatoes! My neighbour popped over. She has grown her own vegetables for years. I nipped over the road and was having a chat. I noticed her tomatoes looked exactly the same as mine. I asked her about them and she said "Oh it's nothing, I just break the leaves off. So when she came over to our house she had a good look at mine, said they were really healthy! She showed me how to pinch off the unecessary leaves & what to look for. I can't begin to tell you how happy and relieved I feel. She also gave me some pepper plants. I felt really really chuffed. She also said she would buy some plums from us. We have about 10 plum trees and 3 apple trees. When we grow our vegetables we are going to sell mixed weekly bags to friends & family. I think we should put some fruit in too. It wont be this year obviously, but planning for the future I think it would be a good idea. I could also put chutneys and pickles into the bags. I think we need to put some netting on the apple trees this year to prevent bird damage. Received a phone call to say "My Allotment Book" had arrived. Rushed to the school to pick up my bargain book @ £6! It is written by Jekka McVicar......... check out her website... http://www.jekkasherbfarm.com/ The sun is shining both outside and inside (and that's just me!) I am off to tidy the house and get rid of the flies, then settle down and read my new book! Dx

Pink Champagne!

The book said 500g of Rhubarb, my tiny harvest yielded 100g but I was not going to be disheartened! I chopped and cooked the rhubarb until soft, together with sugar and water. Soft yet still could feel the structure. Blitzed in the blender. Chilled. Sieved added to champagne................... Wonderful! Will do this again! Wonder why I have a slight headache this morning!