The King's Head

What a grey, damp and murky day we woke up to.  Overnight half the Golden Delicious apples have fallen from the tree.  I don't even feel inclined to go and gather them in this dampness.

I painted the sculpture and grandly christened it the King's Head as there is a passing resemblance to Prince Charles.  I then had the dilemma of finding it a home.

I couldn't quite bring myself to put him in the dustbin so he was headed to the attic to gather dust.  But then I saw a dark corner on the shelf unit and I've tucked him away, almost out of sight.  He can stay there for the time being.

Soul Man

 

I'm having a nice, relaxed Sunday. Paul has been baking bread and cake and there is a delicious aroma emanating from the kitchen. We shall have the freshly baked bread with charcuterie and cheese for lunch.

We were out on the town last night, or more accurately - the village! A musical evening at the village hall featuring The Soul Man. We weren't too sure what to expect from this entertainment but the Soul Man was a class act. He effortlessly sang his way through a range of classic soul hits - his voice was amazing. I think Sarah was slightly bemused by the music but in the end she was up on the dance floor with the rest of us strutting our stuff. It was a great night out.

Rick was not too happy at being left home alone on a Saturday night. He has forgiven me now and is supervising me while I try and write this blog.

Shopping

 

Next week is the last posting date for BFPO (British Forces Post Office) overseas parcels to arrive in time for Christmas so we are busy putting a box together for Kat and Craig who are currently stationed in Cyprus. I can't say what's going in the box because they might see the blog!

Anyway, yesterday Paul and I drove to Gainsborough with a shopping list of items to get for the box. It was absolutely bucketing down with rain so we deliberately chose the Marshall's Yard shopping centre because there is plenty of parking and the shops are easily accessible. The site was formerly the Britannia Iron Works founded in 1848 making steam engines and agricultural machines that were exported worldwide. Like many engineering companies business declined in the 1970's and the works closed in 1980 but the site's industrial heritage is apparent with the old structures refurbished and now housing shops and cafes. History lesson over.

We managed to get the things on the list and then we wandered into Next clothes store and did something we have always resisted doing in the past. We bought Christmas jumpers! I don't know what possessed us but it just had to be done I suppose. Paul's has snowmen and reindeer, mine is more understated with just has a couple of sparkly reindeer. At least they are not matching.

Clumsy

 

It's quite common for older people to be a bit clumsy and less co-ordinated than their younger selves. Sometimes there may be a serious underlying reason for this clumsiness but more often than not it's just a natural decline due to age.  Nonetheless it is very annoying when you break an expensive wine glass or chip that favourite mug. Yesterday I noticed that the coffee maker glass jug had a crack in it, I guess it had been plonked down too heavily on the worktop or had maybe caught the edge of the ceramic sink.

A nice cup of filtered Italian blend coffee is one of our daily luxuries. We do drink instant coffee but every morning at 10.00 we enjoy a freshly brewed pot of 'proper coffee' together with a rock bun. Rick has a Dentastix chew at the same time. So, after discovering the crack we decided to order a replacement jug for our four year old machine.

The price of the specific jug was £15.99 plus postage of £7.00.  The price of a new coffee maker on Amazon with free delivery was £ 39.99. I dislike the modern world's throwaway habits but it seemed more logical to me to spend a few pounds extra and get a brand new machine.  It will be here on Monday.

Tarte Tatin

 

It was white and frosty underfoot when Rick and I set out this morning but there was a beautiful pink sunrise. Washdyke Lane was icy and slippery so I walked very carefully. I was hoping we would have some sunshine today but it is now very cold and grey outside, very wintry indeed. Sarah's swish eco-friendly, state of the art offices are having heating problems this morning so she is sitting at her desk with a fur coat on. She might be wishing she is back in Oz right now.

Yesterday I cooked a traditional roast dinner, chicken with bacon rolls, sage and onion stuffing, bread sauce and roasted vegetables. We had a guest with us from Canada so I pushed the boat out and made an apple tarte tatin for dessert.

tarte tatin

It doesn't look terribly pretty but it was just wicked. The butter and sugar had caramelised perfectly and it was such a nice way to use up some of the many apples I have stored outside in a shed. The tarte is easy to make, the hardest part is turning it upside down onto a plate as soon as it comes out of the oven. Paul is becoming very proficient at that part of the procedure. I even let him have seconds as a reward!

Arlene, our dinner guest, was very appreciative of the meal. It was the first time she had come across bread sauce and the tarte tatin was another new experience for her.

Saturday

 

I am currently relaxing and enjoying a glass of dry sherry while Sarah is in the bath and Paul is cooking supper. Actually, it's not sherry at all, it's the plum wine we made earlier this year but it tastes exactly like an Amontillado. 

I've had a lazy day. This morning I made a batch of yoghurt and then I gave Rick his weekly grooming session. He is very relaxed about being brushed and trimmed these days and he knows exactly what I mean when I call him for his “groomins”. He is a very different animal to the one we adopted back in the summer of 2017 – a four year old dog that had never played with a ball or a toy and was quite nervous about being cuddled. Nowadays he has indoor and outdoor tennis balls and always keeps Mister Bunny and Badger close at hand. He has also become something of a lap dog and every afternoon he waits to be invited onto the sofa for cuddles. I know I spoil him but he is my boy.

Time for supper now – cheesy cauliflower macaroni – lovely comfort food for a winter's evening.

Yee Haw

 

Village Hall

It was line dancing this morning – a group of mature ladies from the village strutting our stuff. We have a wide repertoire of routines, dancing to all kinds of music, not just Country Western. It's good exercise and the more complicated dances stretch the mind too. I rarely put a step wrong these days unless I let my mind wander or get distracted by a passing goat outside and then I find myself doing a completely different dance to everyone else. Concentrate Susan!

Last month the village hall held a Country Western evening and our group were invited to perform. Maureen, our leader, agreed on the proviso that we didn't have to dress up as cowboys. Personally, I would have quite enjoyed wearing a Stetson and boots.

It was a jolly evening. We started off with Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits and half the audience got up straightaway and joined in. So much for our show dance - it was manic. Things got so loud and lively that I struggled to hear the music but, luckily, I could still make out the low bass sounds and keep in time. Everyone was dancing, even Paul got up and joined in with the Grundy Gallop that I had taught him during lockdown.

all quiet and genteel...

...and then

Strutting our stuff (yes, that is Paul at the back)

The event was deemed to be a great success and our line dancing troupe were the stars of the evening.  Yee haw!

More Practice Needed

I

I don't know who this geezer is but it's certainly not Paul!  I blame the model for disappearing into his garage after I started work.

I have learnt some lessons after my first attempt at modelling a bust sculpture.  Make the armature less flimsy (it was wobbling about all over the place when I started), use more clay and take more measurements.  He certainly doesn't resemble anyone I know -  the bulging eyes would suggest he's got a problem with his thyroid and try as I might I could not get rid of his pout!

I've put him in the spare room out of sight to dry out.

Bullets

It's been a wet and blustery day.  I took Rick out very early (it wasn't even daylight) so that we could be back home before the rain started.  I've had a busy day with household chores so have not had the opportunity to work on the sculpture - I really need a whole clear day without interruption to work with the clay.

Paul has just collected Sarah from Lincoln after her two day trip to London; her bosses had flown in from Sydney for a series of meetings.  She came home loaded with goodies, one bag containing a selection of Australian treats.  I have requisitioned the chocolate liquorice bullets.  Chocolate and liquorice together - heaven!  Unfortunately, the jars of vegemite were confiscated by customs.

Armature

 

Step 1, the armature

You may remember that Sarah bought me a lump of mud for my birthday.  It was a piece of modelling clay and I have been waiting for the right moment to get creative.  Foggy November days seem like a good time to stay indoors and play.

My previous creations were a hare and a dubious looking kangeroo.  This time round I want to attempt a bust; I shall use Paul as a reference model but will not try and recreate his exact image.  The first part of the project was to make an armature, or framework to work around.  I asked Paul to insert a pole into a wooden plinth and then I have wrapped it with paper and foil; the next stage will be to slap a layer of clay onto this framework.  I shall start doing that tomorrow.  Such fun!

Mother Hen

 

Paul has just driven Sarah to Lincoln so that she can catch the train to London. Her Australian bosses have flown into the UK for a business presentation and Sarah will be joining them for a couple of days during their brief visit, staying at a posh hotel near Marble Arch. Tonight is wining and dining, tomorrow work and then apparently a day of shopping!

Sarah has spent over a decade living and working in the centre of Sydney and it's many years since she travelled around London. She's not sure if she will take a cab or tube from King's Cross to the hotel but I gave her colour coded instructions for the Underground as it's not a direct line to Marble Arch.

“Where do you keep your credit cards and phone? You need to keep them safe from pick pockets. What shoes are you wearing, the pavements kill your feet...”

“Stop fussing mum, I'm 37 years old!”.

I just can't help myself.

MasterChef

Chris Finnigan, one of the contestants

Last night Paul went to his bowling club and I was home alone with Rick so I had control over the TV remote. I ended up watching 'MasterChef the Professionals' and was inspired by the wonderful and complex meals they prepared for the tasting panel (although the mackerel scorched with a blow torch did not impress me or the judges). I got up this morning with thoughts of making an agrodolce sauce and ballotine of chicken but in the end I just made some soup for lunch.

I made a carrot and blue cheese soup from some left over Stilton. It's funny how blue cheese always ends up lingering in the fridge for weeks on end. I cut some celery from the garden and added an apple, onion, small potato and two carrots to the pot, stirring in the cheese at the end. Not MasterChef cuisine but it was very tasty and warming on this cold November day.

Steampunks

 

It's Thursday and apart from a few on-line games of scrabble with friends and some household chores (I've washed Rick's blanket and hung it outside to dry - it looks like it might take off at any moment) I've got quite a blank sort of day. So I'll take you back to a weekend this summer when the Steampunks arrived in Lincoln.

Science fiction author K.W. Jeter created the term steampunk in 1987 to describe a style of fantasy fiction that featured Victorian technology, especially technology powered by steam. Steampunk fashion is a mixture of clothing inspired by characters from 19th century explorers, soldiers, lords, countesses and harlots to the punk, contemporary street fashion, burlesque, goth, fetishism, vampire and frills among others.

Sarah always loved dressing up as a child, and still does, so nothing was going to stop her dragging her family (Kat was home that weekend) into the city to see the spectacle. I'm so glad she did because I have never seen anything quite so wacky in my life. The castle and the cathedral provided the perfect backdrop for Steampunks of all shapes and sizes who were parading around the cobbled streets showing off their weird and wonderful outfits.

Sarah didn't have time to make an elaborate outfit

Sarah and Kat are already planning their costumes for next year's event.  Paul is wondering whether he suits a top hat...

Riding Solo

 

Kat, Craig, Sarah and Paul are all passionate about cycling. Sarah picked up the habit last Christmas when she was here and has never looked back. I enjoy cycling too, but not to the same degree as my family.

Kat and Craig both cycle competitively in RAF teams. Paul and Sarah race via Zwift, the virtual system we have installed in the gym that enables them to compete against cyclists worldwide. They cycle outside too, taking part in the Lincoln Petit Grand Prix earlier this year. It was the first time Sarah had ridden in an event like this and she was thrilled by the experience; they both rode 76 kms in just under three hours.

By comparison I am a lazy cyclist. In the summer I enjoy riding around the countryside and taking in the sights. During the winter I find it harder, forcing myself to get on the bike in the gym three times a week. It would be easy for me to just sit back and put my feet up but I know how important it is to do this exercise. I am convinced that cycling has cured me of the chronic hip pain that I used to suffer from. Ten years ago I could hardly walk very far without discomfort. All that pedalling has strengthened my muscles and helped me to lose weight. I am probably the fittest I have been for a long time and I want to stay that way.

Paul and Sarah always invite me to join them on their weekend rides exploring the Lincolnshire countryside. Sometimes I decline, I find it quite disheartening watching them speed ahead and then slow down waiting for me to catch up. We have had some nice family rides though, with Kat and Craig joining us a couple of times. Happily Craig knows how to brake when he sees a pub so that is a definite bonus!

More often than not I venture out alone. I enjoy cycling solo, at my own speed with no pressure to keep up with other riders.

Identity

 

This morning Paul and I drove to the solicitor's office in Market Rasen. I needed to prove my identity before a solicitor (lawyer) so that certain monies could be paid into my bank account. Such a palaver but standard practice nowadays due to money laundering regulations. So armed with my passport and a passport size photograph I presented myself before the solicitor who filled in a form and photocopied my details. We expected a fee of £50 but he only charged us a tenner.

While we were in Market Rasen we called in at the Green Pantry (eco-friendly weigh your own/refill shop) to buy some bread flour and smoked paprika. It's a great shop, I love the smell of all the different spices. I noticed some pottery oil burners on a shelf and, as we left our old one in France when we moved, I decided to buy one. I like to fill the house with Christmassy aromas in the winter.

The lady in the shop reminded me that I would need tea lights for the burner but I assured her that I had loads of them at home. Paul thought I was mistaken and suggested calling in at the hardware shop to buy some. No, I was certain we had dozens. Of course, since coming home, I cannot find them anywhere. I can visualise the bag containing about 50 of the candles but I can't remember where it is. Looks like I shall have to wait a bit longer before the scent of cinnamon, orange and frankincense waft around the house.

Left Over Pizza

 

It's a cold, damp and misty Sunday and I am glad to be cosy indoors. Paul is bemoaning the fact that our new solar panels are unable to generate any power in these conditions. I doubt they will generate anything at all this week as rain is forecast for the next few days.

This morning I groomed Rick (he enjoys this weekly ritual and often has a little snooze) and then I made yoghurt. Sarah is getting ready to meet a friend for lunch at the Cosy Club in Lincoln – a 1930's style restaurant and bar housed at the old Corn Exchange building in the historic Cornhill Quarter. Paul and I are staying at home with last night's left over cold pizza for lunch but never fear, we shall dine in style tonight when Paul is going to cook a seafood paella.

Last month we had a family lunch at the Dambusters Pub in the nearby village of Scampton. Kat and son-in-law Craig joined us. It was a special meal as they were both flying out to Cyprus a few days' later for a three month tour of duty; they will be away for Christmas. They felt very at home as the pub is full of WW2 RAF memorabilia, Our own village pub, The Crown, has a good reputation now (after a shaky start) since re-opening last year and Rick is more than happy to sit under a table in the bar next to a roaring fire while we tuck into a roast dinner.  

But right now it's time for left over pizza.  Can I have a glass of wine with that?

Prodigal Daughter

 

Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I cannot truly believe that my eldest daughter has returned home after 13 years away in Australia. Sarah came home last Christmas for a couple of weeks, flew back to Sydney and then shortly afterwards announced that she wanted to return to the UK. In March she packed up all her worldly possessions and came back to her family - older, emotionally bruised and slightly cynical but still the wacky, zany Sarah that we loved and had missed so much. 

It's not been easy for her since she returned home. Lincolnshire is new territory for all of us and she has no friends or family network in the local area. But gradually she is getting to know people and is re-building her life as a confident and independent young woman. She has sold her house in Wiltshire and is in the throws of buying her dream cottage in a small village about 10 minutes drive from here. 

She's doing okay and it's so good to have her back.