In A Carpark, The Food Shop and Curling

 In Suffolk the mobile breast cancer screening service travels to various locations and as I'm 70 it was my turn for my last screening- unless I request more, which I probably will as there is and has been so much cancer in the family (but how to remember to contact them in 3 years time?)

The unit parks in the car-park of the Co-op on the edge of Stowmarket. It was pouring with rain so I didn't get a photo but it's this one below, which in this photo is parked in Leiston Co-op car-park where I used to visit it every 3 years when we were at the smallholding. They were running late so it was a bit of a wait, but I'd rather wait than have to drive all the way to Ipswich Hospital.

I don't understand women who don't take up the chance to be screened. Now it's just a wait with fingers crossed to get a letter saying all is OK......or not. Although the only time I was called back in the last 20 years was because of static on the screen.

And as I was in town I went to  Aldi, Asda and Superdrug so I didn't need to go shopping anywhere for a week. Here we go - a shopping photo for those who love them!

Apples, pears, mini potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, cheese, dried prunes, rice, tortilla wraps, 2 tins sardines, Hovis biscuits for a change, Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers and a tube of pringles. Total £19.95.

Plus 2 packs of paracetamol from Superdrug 78p.

The apples and pears are British and the potatoes are even more local - coming from Wantisden Farms near Woodbridge in Suffolk. Unfortunately the purple sprouting is from Spain - I reckon it's  too wet here for harvesting.

There were several empty spaces in Aldi - no decaf ground coffee, no Shropshire Blue cheese and no dried apricots (I've been eating chopped apple/pear and soaked prunes warmed up in the microwave for breakfast and fancied apricots for a change).

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I've been enjoying watching the GB Curling Mixed doubles at the Winter Olympics. It's one of those things that looks quite simple - just sliding the stone down the ice to land closest to the middle of the circle and trying to get more stones closer than the other team - same as bowls. But all that sweeping and sliding up and down the sheet looks exhausting and the teams all seem to be young and I reckon it's quite hard on the knees too.

Today there is more curling and the skiing events start and also two matches in the six-nations rugby. I hope they are less one-sided than the France v Ireland game when France looked unstoppable. 

February Library Book Photo

 Picked up these from the mobile library, a bit different this month - only two crime and six non-fiction

and the very small book on the right is a children's book.

I've added to the books about spring - seems I'm looking forward as well as getting through Winter with 'Sacred Seasons' and that fiction book 'The Last Song of Winter' by Lulu Taylor (which someone must have mentioned as it doesn't look like a 'me' book at all) ' But 4 other books about getting through Winter still have waiting lists and it will be March and Spring before I get them.

Out of the huge amount brought home in January I've still got 5 here and have read seven so far.

The books I've read up to now are on the Books Read 2026 page. 

First Food Shop of February (NOT a shopping haul - just shopping!)

 I needed eggs (preferably the bargain ones) and remembered that on Wednesdays there's a Country Market  in Eye Town Hall so two birds etc...........

The Country Market is individual makers joining together under the Country Markets Banner. Much smaller and cheaper than Farmers Markets. There used to be one in many towns but now just 4 in the whole of Suffolk. For many years I took produce and cards to Framlingham and before that Stowmarket and Saxmundham (all no longer running). Explanation from internet.............

Country Markets in the UK originated from the Women’s Institute (WI) market scheme, which began in 1919. Originally designed to allow members to sell surplus home-produced goods, these markets evolved into an independent, nationwide network of co-operative social enterprises while retaining their focus on locally made, baked, and grown produce. 

Key Aspects of Country Markets (Formerly WI Markets):

• Origin: Started as a WI initiative, often historically referred to as "W.I. Markets".
• Produce: Markets feature home-baked goods, preserves, eggs, plants, and hand-crafted items.
• Structure: They operate as a social enterprise where local producers sell directly to the public.
• Locations: Held regularly in various towns and villages across the UK.

There were lots of elderly people (older than me!)buying the individual ready prepared meals - what a good idea. I couldn't get close enough to see what they were and ditto the jars of jams etc at the stand on the end of the tables.

While in Eye I 'shopped local' .Leeks from Country Market 60p (apart from Jerusalem (F)artichokes and butternut squash these were the only veg that anyone had brought in for sale). 4 burger baps from Co-op £1.80,  6  eggs from the roadside stall £1 and non food - Antiseptic cream from Chemist £2.49 and two cards (Granddaughter and Daughter in Law) from the Home Start charity shop £1 each.

If you are into sport on TV did you know that the Curling at the Winter Olympics started already -  it was on BBC i player at 6pm last night and several times today also some Ice Hockey. All before the Opening Ceremony on Friday evening.