Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

Good afternoon,

Warm but grey here today. I think the rain should hold off, though.

We did well at the fundraiser again today, with a turn out better than I anticipated. I was worried that holding them monthly would result in a gradual lack of interest, but am pleased to be proven wrong so far. I don’t know what the final amount will be, but I’m guessing £300 - £350, which will be very good indeed. I think it’s in aid of the air ambulance this time.

After that, I called at the supermarket and was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was, how easy it was to get round and how quickly I was served. Huge plus points.

I hope the drive home is a good one @Busy-Lizzie, with no hold ups.

Good news about your hip op @Tui34.

OH isn’t barking quite so much today, so I’m hoping it’s beginning to abate. I feel much better. It’s not completely clear, but as I say, much better. There’s such a lot of it about. Over half the immediate family (we were all together last weekend) succumbed. I don’t think it’s been covid, but as tests aren’t as readily available, I don’t know. I think, though, it’s just a summer cold type thing.

Such a shame it rained so much for the opening ceremony in Paris. I didn’t watch it myself, but have heard (and read here) how good it was.

Well, I’d better get on.

 

Saturday, 10:39 AM. Well we almost took off for New York today. A 4 hour drive to an event that some friends asked us to join them there. But, both of us, just did not have the passion to do it, thank goodness. So staying home and about is a good thing.
Nice day today, good weather. Do some garden stuff, house stuff, etc.

Discovered a new group I am going to try out, its a local gathering group of folks, my age type, they gather every other Wednesday for coffee and conversation, who knows. going to give it a try this Wednesday, 5 min drive to the meet up place located in a coffee cafe type place. And its not too early, 11AM.

@Obelix-Vendée , guess you have harvested lots of basil, when I grew it, I would chop it up in a food processor and a smidge of olive oil and freeze it in the ice cube trays, then pop them out and put in a freezer bag, all I needed for soups etc, was a cube tossed in. Also ---ran across another type of pesto that I love. its Kale Pesto, Food Processor, garlic, pecans (yes Pecans) about a hand full, olive oil, chop and then add Kale leaves until the dense you want, salt . really good. I think Kale gives up more nutrients than basil.

Take care folks.

 

Some useful tips and recipes there @redstar. Thank you.

 

Thnaks @redstar . I'd love to try that kale pesto but my seedlings were all munched this year and I never see it on the shops here, not even the specialist fruit and veg stores that mostly grow their own.

Have come in bloodied. Som eof my roses have nasty thorns! Anyway, cuttings taken from 8 roses and the lavender and now I have the sprinkler on the beds so that tomorrow I can get in there and weed then feed the roses and spaces between and plant some salvias and a few other things to fill the gaps.

Have a lovely evening everyone, whatever you're doing.

 

Just in from finishing the watering in the greenhouse. At last my tomatoes are blushing! Mini cukes are about 1cm long. This is my first - and possibly last time of growing them unless we get a decent summer next year.
@Goldenlily26, the news from Jasper is grim. I do hope that your family are safe where they are and that no fires start near them.
I feel as if I am missing out when I hear all you people speak of kale. I've never eaten it. Isn't it just cabbage in disguise?

 

I've never eaten it either @Ladybird4 as I thought it would taste similar to cabbage......and don't like that

 

Well done @Blue arbour for your fund raising. That is an excellent result and well done to the generous donors. Good news that your OH seems to be on the road to recovery now.

 

I'm with you there @Star gaze Lily. Too many horrid memories of school dinners so I am not a huge fan of any cabbagey type vegetable though I love Brussels Sprouts and cauliflower.
p.s. and broccoli

 

I'm sure it's got to do with school dinners too.
I like broccoli and cauliflower too.
I like Brussels sprouts.....depending on who's cooked them

 

I bought a pot of basil in the supermarket last week, but haven’t eaten any and it wont keep much longer. Didn’t even occur to me to make some pesto with it, but that’s now on my list for tomorrow! I shall use walnuts or cashews, although I might have some pine nuts lurking in the drawer, plus cheddar cheese.
Filled two huge bags of ivy and nettles while clearing some paths yesterday. Got a message from the council that they will try and repair our green bins with spare parts. That makes sense, it’s only the lids that got broken, the bins themselves are made of sturdier stuff. I have to leave the bins at the front of the house, and accessible, from Monday morning. I shall have to pile up my next haul of ivy until after they’ve been. That will give me a temporary reprieve from cutting done stuff, maybe I can divert my energy to doing some planting instead.
Glad to hear that everyone is getting dates for their replacement joints. Hopefully won’t need to join a waiting list for a few years yet, although I’m noticing my eyesight deteriorating. Luckily the distance glasses I got last year help a lot. I’ve only really needed them for occasional night driving, but finding them increasingly necessary in dull or rainy conditions. Still not bad for my age!
No gardening today, although I did water the houseplants! Did some overdue house cleaning, the shower is now looking pristine!

 

@Ergates, it will be great if they can repair your bin lid. You wouldn't want that filling up with rain water.
I am going to sign out for today. These Saturdays seem to come by very quickly.

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My favourite kale is cavolo nero but ordinary green kale will do fine. CN is a finer flavour and more tender than curly kale and is good in all sorts of Italian dishes or just stir fried with some garlic, chilli and olive oil.

As with anything, it's how you prepare and cook them that makes the difference but nothing will ever make me like sprouts or swede.

 

I found another of those toppers today.

 

Late posting from me as had a late finish from work.

Olympic Ceremony was certainly entertaining. A few weird bits and way too much self-indulgent dancing though! I hope I can find time to watch a few things tomorrow.

You’ve all been chatty today. My view on kale is - no thanks, same with pak Choi. It’s probably very good for you but I don’t enjoy the texture personally. Love a sprout though!

Catch up with you all tomorrow.

 

Those toppers are brilliant @RowlandsCastle - such talented people.

I can report @Ladybird4 that our final result made £410. I’ve put my mathematical head on now (and I never have been good at maths), but if we average £400 per month, that will be approx £4800 raised for good causes per year, which, for an area with quite high unemployment rates, that’s pretty good going. Those of us running it are pension age, as are most contributing at the event itself, but I stress, not all are pension age, and certainly not all who have bought “behind the scenes”, and some are likely struggling themselves in some way - such generosity is quite humbling.