Same old, Same Old

 

We had out gutters cleaned out first thing this morning, getting ready for Winter by clearing out all the moss that the birds have been depositing in them over the last few months.  I don't know where they get it all from as we had our roof and that of next door cleaned completely last year, so there shouldn't be that much moss up there for them to collect. 

Anyway once the guy had finished both houses and the annexe Alan suggested going to Booths for a bacon butty, I shared a bowl of chips with him too and enjoyed a cup of coffee.  Then it was time to grab a bit of shopping from both Booths and Aldi as we usually do.

Ginger's preferred cat food is currently on offer at Booths and cheaper there than everywhere else, so we bought six packs each containing four little pots, which is nearly two weeks of food.

Similar, but not quite the same as last weeks trolly full of food, and a smidge cheaper too.

Not buying any alcohol has significantly reduced my food spend this last few weeks. Even at less than a fiver a bottle it soon adds up.  Once again I have bought a few treaty things, and a couple of things that make life easier with all the travelling we are still doing.

Microwaveable rice and vegetables in little portion sized bags may seem extravagant, but when they make life simple and mean there is food to eat in minutes, it's very appreciated.

Life has felt very 'samey samey' for the last few months, and I have noticed that my blog posts have reflected this.  Maybe it's the writing about it as well as living it that doubles the impact.  While I realise that I am not the only blogger that writes 'same old, same old' posts over and over again, I hate being that person, it's just not me.

I think the main reason for this is that I am currently living in a kind of limbo, keeping things going that just have to be kept going, all the while wishing for the end to be in sight and not around a bend that could be just a single curve in the road, or the beginning of yet another series of chicanes.  It's been tough on us all for the majority of this year and I think it whittles down your ability to relax into life.  We snatch the moments, the walks along a sea front, a coffee in a café etc, but they are punctuated with such relentless seriousness, the relief they offer seems to vanish.

This is way too serious now, I will sign off for now.

Sue xx

Everyone is Talking About Christmas ...

 

It seems that everyone is suddenly talking about Christmas, but I am going one step further and mentioning that this week I pre-ordered my 2026 Lucy Almey Bird wall calendar. 

 I just could not run the risk of them selling out, and I have loved having this years version hung up next to my chair and matching in with the prints that I have on my wall.  

Buying direct from her website made the calendar a lot cheaper than some of the others that I was looking at in the garden centre last week too, so I was doubly pleased.  It did also tempt me into looking at all her lovely greetings cards, there are a lot and they are beautiful.  But I resisted ... for now!!

Lucy Almey Bird Website

No Christmas talk from me for a while though, although I do understand why some people have started mentioning it and of course the shops have also started stocking it.

Sue xx

Compost Heap Jelly

I finally got around to making my latest batch of Compost Heap Jelly.

I did it over three days as we have been here, there and everywhere this week, but it's forgiving in it's timings ... thank goodness.

First day, dig all the rinds, peelings and various bits and bobs out of the freezer.  

Add them to a large pan, cover with water and bring to the boil before simmering for at least an hour.  It was a lot longer than that for me as I was busy, so I left the pan to it's own devices, just giving it a quick stir each time I passed.

Once it has simmered merrily away for a random length of time, carefully pour into a jelly bag suspended over a large bowl or jug.  Leaving it overnight is the best way to do this as there is less chance of it getting knocked over, especially if like me you have a tiny kitchen.

In my case the juice then spent the following day in the fridge mellowing nicely.

Then do your workings out as to how much sugar you will need to add to your liquid.  I had 800mls of liquid so I needed 600g of sugar.  I used a mixture of the sachets I had in my little stash and then half and half normal sugar and some of the jam sugar that I found in the lower cupboard.

Put your pan on a medium heat and then stir continually until all the sugar has dissolved, then bring the pan to a rolling boil, you must use a larger pan than you think you will need as this rises dramatically.  

Boil hard for at least ten minutes before testing for a set either with a sugar thermometer, or you can do the wrinkle test on an ice cold plate, which I have to do now that I have sold virtually all my jam making equipment.

Then pour carefully into sterilised jars, preferably having one with a 'button' top so that you know you have achieved a perfect seal as it cools down and pops inwards.

This time my bags of fruit scraps made four jars of Compost Heap Jelly, two for me and two for Alan, who is a huge fan of this concoction.

https://youtu.be/-jwQnlKSxQI?si=b2AdaJsn6fMojiIF

 Watching Pam Corbin's ... the originator of this recipe ... YouTube video of making this will probably make more sense than my ramblings.

This latest batch of mine is very citrussy and tangy and very like a good lemon marmalade, but one that cost me just the price of some sugar to make.

Sue xx

The Most Shopping I've Bought in a While

Time to catch up on a couple of shopping trips done on Tuesday, which actually feels like a lifetime away already.  Alan had to ask me what day it was yesterday on our way to visit Mum, and I'll be honest it took me a minute!!

Anyway on Tuesday we went to Aldi as Alan needed quite a few bits of shopping and I thought with such an empty fridge it would be a good idea to get a few bits myself.  But looking at the photo there's not a lot for the fridge there is there?

I did get another pack of the salmon fillets, as I was tempted by all the other options you gave me on the last salmon post.  

We nearly always shop individually in Aldi as Alan likes to take time to browse the meat aisles and I like to look at other less gory areas in more detail, and of course it means that we can both buy two boxes of paracetamol for my little stash.  

Over the course of a shopping trip we bump into each other many times, he is a very random shopper whereas I mostly go up and down the aisles.  He caught me photographing my trolley contents and grinned, but he's used to being married to a blogger ... well he should be after over eighteen years of me blogging.  😄

When I got home I laid out the shopping for another photo before putting it away ... and he came in and caught me again!

Not in the trolley at the time of the photo were these purchases, which I picked up right near the till.  The flatbreads are to use as little pizza bases, they are just the right size for an individual pizza for me.

I don't tend to drink 'squashes' or any sort of flavoured water, so two of these last me almost a year.  I am just coming to the end of my last one at home.  I use them on a Saturday morning when I have to drink two full glasses of water with my osteoporosis tablet before consuming anything else.  Adding just a touch of flavour makes it much more bearable over the course of half an hour, but I still clock watch for when I can get to a nice cup of coffee.  

The shopping in Aldi came to a grand total of £27.58.

Then we went over to Booths where I spent £15.15.

The quickest food review in the world - those Garlic and Herb Bites are NOT nice!!  I ate two and Alan finished off the rest ... he's like a human dustbin.  😆

Alan wanted some specific things that he couldn't get from Aldi so we shared a trolley this time and I picked up a few bits that were on offer too.  We temporarily abandoned our trolley at the foot of the stairs, and went and treated ourselves to a coffee.  

The cost of a simple black Americano in Booths had gone up to £3.35, a rise of 15p overnight... I was shocked, and nearly all the other items on menu have gone up by a similar amount.  If it was up to just me I wouldn't go out for coffees, or meals anywhere near as often as we do.  But Alan likes it and as he also pays and asks me to join him I will keep him company, but always at the back of my mind are price comparisons.  

For instance you can get 200g of instant coffee in Aldi for £2.09 ... I knew, I had just seen it.

Sue xx

 

The Fridge Stocks Are Running Low

 

The fridge was looking slightly sorry for itself this morning.  

Low stocks and a needing a bit of a wipe out while it was so bare.  So I decided to give it a good clean ... and promptly dropped the bottom vegetable drawer on the floor, separating the front of the drawer from the sides and losing lots of little bits of plastic at the same time.  Oops!!

I borrowed some of Alan's Gorilla Glue and proceeded to stick the bits back together  Will it work, I really don't know, but it was worth a go.  In my usual 'I'm bloody useless at gluing things together' fashion I managed to stick it to the rug in the living room when I left it to set.  The one upside was that with it not being Super Glue I didn't stick myself to it too!!

If it doesn't hold I will try moving the other drawer down and use the glass divider above it as another shelf. It's not the end of the world.  😀

Trying to find a job that didn't involve dropping things or glue, I got all the fruity bits and pieces out of the freezer ...

... and got them slowly simmering away in some water ready to make a batch of Compost Heap Jelly tomorrow.  All it has to do is to simmer away for a few hours and then drip through the jelly bag overnight.

I should be safe with that ... 🤞

Sue xx

Don't Live Through Problems Twice

That's putting a lot of pressure on a book isn't it.  😄 

Thank you for all your good wishes for Mum and us on yesterday's post.  It really means a lot and I will pass them on to Mum when I next see her.  

She had an emergency flexible sigmoidoscopy the morning after her admittance to hospital after they had run various tests throughout the night. The procedure although giving her a 50/50% chance of survival went well.  It was really slightly worrying to agree to, but the odds were 100% against losing her without it, so myself and my brother just had to say yes.  It was the only way the consultant thought it possible to get to the twisted section of her bowel and hopefully untwist it.  It worked and her pain was relieved almost immediately.

She is now on oxygen and two drips, and being monitored closely by staff on the ward.  Our NHS is brilliant.  

Right that' enough medical stuff ... I hate it.  

I don't dwell on things, or worry about them ahead of time, it does no good and helps no one, in fact it just makes you live through problems twice.  The best thing we can do is to carry on as normal and do what we can, while helping those that need help.

Normal service will be resumed tomorrow!!   😀

Sue xx

A Hobbit Life ... and An Emergency

 

It sounds good doesn't it.

Although I think now that Autumn is here, rather than being barefoot I would like some big padded slippers that look like hobbit feet to keep my toes warm.  😁

Sorry that's it for today, we are off to see my Mum.  

She was rushed into hospital this week with a twisted bowel and had to have an emergency procedure, she is currently still on drips and oxygen, and waiting to be allowed to go back to her care home.  Fingers crossed.

Sue xx

Poached Eggs ... and Cat Food

 

After the last post I was asked how I got my poached eggs so perfectly round.  I totally cheat and I use these little silicone poaching cups and pop them in the microwave for just a smidge over one minute.

It means that in the time it takes for the toast to pop up I have two perfectly poached eggs.  Well perfectly poached for me, I do like the yolks quite firm.  I can't stand the wetness of poached eggs cooked straight in boiling water, although Alan quite likes them done that way.

Isn't this a lovely picture of Ginger.  

It was taken by Tash, my sons girlfriend when they stayed at our house to look after our ginger beauty.  Ginger has always liked Jason and Tash and the way they fuss over him.  He's managing to put a little bit of weight back on since we changed his food.  

He is now totally addicted to this cat food, and is actually asking to be fed at each meal time and clearing his dish every time.

His wish is our command, luckily it is on offer at the moment so we are getting very stocked up on it,  which is handy as some days he asks for lunch as well as his breakfast and tea.  

He's not going to fit through his cat-flap soon at this rate. 😺

Sue xx

Switching Things Up

 

While we were on holiday I breakfasted really well, I think you tend to when you are on a breakfast and dinner type holiday don't you.  If there's no lunch provided you tend to make sure you have enough to see you through ... well mostly.  

Every day of the five day break, for breakfast I had half a glass of fresh orange juice, Weetabix with mixed fresh fruits and oat milk, then I finished off with two slices of fried bread, two fried eggs, half a tomato and a small portion of baked beans ... and of course at least two cups of coffee. Much more food than I ever have at home.

And very naughtily every evening I drank two thirds of a bottle of wine, while nibbling on salted peanuts and watching the entertainment.

When we got back I was expecting to have put on at least a couple of pounds in weight, and it wouldn't have bothered me at all.  Whenever I put weight on I find it really easy to get back to my default weight, sadly it also works in reverse and whenever I lose any weight and then stop putting extra effort in I go straight back to that same default weight.

 But, jumping on the scales the first morning after we got back, I had lost two pounds!! 

Now that got me thinking.  So I did a bit of research and discovered quite by chance on YouTube, someone discussing that for people with a default weight setting, switching things up completely can reset that weight to a new lower level.  So the following week I carried on with what I now call my double breakfasts ... and lost a further two pounds.  I did also cut out all alcohol, so that would have helped massively.

I have never been good with cooking fried bread, so I have been having toast.

Using the breakfast muffins that I had in the freezer.

And as you can see switching out the way I have my eggs.

As you can see on the very top photo I have mostly been having my Weetabix with tinned peaches this week, but now that I have harvested some more of the homegrown rhubarb, I have begun alternating that with the peaches.  When we next go shopping I will probably buy some mixed frozen berries to make a healthy alternative.

But one day all health claims went out of the window when I discovered this little steamed pudding in the cupboard ... well it needed eating up.  Tasty, but I actually prefer Weetabix, so it was just a little blip!!  😁

Does anyone have any tips for making good fried bread?

Sue xx

Four Salmon Fillets, Four Meals

I bought a pack of four salmon fillets from Aldi at the start of the month, on THIS shopping trip and I decided to give myself the mini-challenge of using them in different meals over the course of the following week.

It's nothing wildly imaginative, but I found it interesting.

I cooked all four together while I had the oven on for some banana and walnut muffins.

The first fillet was eaten with boiled potatoes and peas, and the other three were put in a dish to cool down before being refrigerated.  As you can see I did extra boiled potatoes, I always think why cook just enough for one meal when you might as well make enough for at least three!!  I kept the cooking water from the potatoes to add to a pot of soup and saved the salmon skin to give to Ginger.

The next day I had a salmon and mayo bun for my tea, there were more homegrown tomatoes on my plate as the bun was being made, but I kept eating them ... I managed to save three for the photo.  😄

A couple of days later I had one of the remaining fillets with rice, peas and spinach.  It was very tasty and very filling.  I do like a lot of rice, but maybe I should switch to brown rice a bit more often. I do love white Basmati though.

Two more days later and I decided to have the final fillet with some noodles.  It is a really easy, and very lazy meal.  But sometimes those sort of meals just hit the spot.  I should have made some peas to go with it, but I thought of this far too late.  So it was a nice simple meal, with no green to be seen.

I had more ideas on what I wanted to do with the fillets, but I will possibly be saving them for next time as this time I was in the mood for really simple things.

What four things would you have done with four salmon fillets?

Sue xx 

Paintings ... and Tattoos

 

I was asked for a closer look at the picture that was seen in the third photo of THIS post.  Here it is for your delight and delectation. It's a print of an original by Judy Boyes that I bought just before I met Alan.  

It's called My Old Fireplace.

I had been going out with another guy, and on one of our first dates he bought himself something very similar by the same artist for his old cottage in Cumbria.  I loved that it had the two cats pictured in it that I had at the time ... Pepper and Ginger (my Ginger, not the current Ginger who came to us already named as a foster cat).

We parted company not long after, and I thought sod him and his mean ways, and I travelled back to the original shop up in the Lakes and bought myself this one.  I tend to do this after a failed relationship, I have a tattoo on my arm of a gecko, he's called Freddie Freedom and he came to live on me after my divorce was finalised.

The picture is almost as permanent and has travelled with me through many addresses.  And of course this can be passed on to one of my sons, whereas a slice of my skin can't!!  😁

Yes I have a strange sense of humour ... but then you knew that didn't you.  😉

Sue xx

Free Electricity ... and Food Review

We're with Octopus Energy for our electricity and gas, and for the last few weekends there has been an hour of free electricity.  Alan has made it his mission to use as much energy in that hour as possible and I've been joining in, maybe with not quite so much gusto, but joining in nevertheless.

Over the weekend just gone we had one free hour on Saturday, so I did all the usual, charging my laptop, camera, phone, vacuum cleaner etc,  putting one load of washing in the machine, alongside making twice as many cups of coffee as usual and boiling a kettle of water to wash the pots instead of firing up the boiler for hot water ... looking at that little lot perhaps I have been as obsessive as Alan.

Anyway late on Saturday night Alan got another email telling him that there was to be a further two free hours on Sunday.  What else could we possibly do to take advantage of it?

Well I decided that for my lunch I would cook the Rainbow Vegetable Parcel which requires one hour and twenty minutes of cooking time in the oven, and I had been putting off using just for that reason.

We also decided to quickly prepare all the apples off our little tree in the garden.  Now they are lightly stewed and in six 'takeaway' containers, three of them in each of our freezers.

I also decided to descale my kettle.

Usually I use vinegar or lemon to do this but I had neither, so I 'borrowed' a sachet of descaler off Alan.  He has the most well stocked, chemical fuelled array of household products under his kitchen sink.  I literally have a couple of well used favourite products.

With free electric for the full two hours it meant that I could boil and re-boil the kettle numerous times to get it nice and sparkly clean and not have to worry about the cost.  Then I boiled it a few more times afterwards to make sure to get all the nasty chemicals away, pouring the boiling water down each of my plugholes one by one, my preferred way of keeping the drains clear.

So ... what did the Rainbow Vegetable Parcel taste like?

It was dire!!

I think you can see quite clearly from this photo how compressed the layers of 'vegetables' are in it.  I put the word vegetables in quotation marks here because they were pretty unidentifiable as vegetables flavour-wise in my opinion.  They were supposed to be spinach, butternut squash and red cabbage ... well what can I say, they were the right colour at least.  😕

I had cooked them alongside the last of my leftover boiled potatoes from last week ... thank goodness I did, at least I got something for my lunch.

It looked promising on the plate.  

The one saving grace was the pastry it was lovely.  In future, for a much quicker version I will wrap my own leftovers in pastry, perhaps in layers or maybe just simply mixed together and have a homemade version, as the idea is one that I do like.

Oh well, at least I now have a nice big space in the freezer, one that I will be filling this week with some cooked homegrown rhubarb.

Sue xx

Autumn Vibes

 

I don't do much furniture shifting these days.  All my things have found their place, just the way I have found mine ... so we all stay where we are.  

I do, however, have a little bit of a colour swap around with the seasons, and it's mostly with books.  The cool whites and blues on the spines of the books that used to be beneath the plant on the sideboard have been swapped for browns, oranges and greens.

Alan walked in and noticed straight away ... 'ooh orange' he said, orange does happen to be his favourite colour, well alongside purple.  Luckily I don't have any purple books!!

After a bit of titivation with books being replaced into the bookcases and new ones being picked out I ran out of steam and enthusiasm, so the radiator shelf stayed a mess for the evening.

By the next day though it had been reorganised, and the eagle-eyed among you will notice that Valerie, the teddy bear has been relocated off the bookcase near the door onto the books on the radiator shelf.  She's an old lady, she will be much warmer for Winter on there.

Some things stay where they are no matter what, the two wooden boxes on the righthand side for instance, as that is where they are useful.  The large box on the bottom contains candles and nightlights alongside matches to light them in an emergency.  The smaller box on top is my small change money box, and is proving useful for buying bits and bobs from the shops during this lean year with no wages.

When evening comes around and dusk starts to fall the salt lamp comes on and casts it's amber hue around the living room, it makes it feel a bit cosier on these cooling evenings.

Safe and Sound - Lucy Almey-Bird

Sue xx