Anyway a week has gone so it's another Saturday review. The weather this last week was a bit better than for quite a while, although Monday and Thursday were damp and grey here in Suffolk.
I had a rude awakening on Monday night sometime between 1 and 2 a.m when I heard a vehicle on the driveway beside the house and under my bedroom window, and as you know I'm up the end of an unmade lane so there shouldn't be anyone driving up the lane unless they are coming to my house and definitely not at that time of the night. I leapt (staggered) out of bed and peered out the window and there was a very large van trying to turn round. I watched it inching round back and forwards getting rather close to the conservatory and I could see the registration number, (which I then forgot after going straight back to sleep) and the fact that it was a van hired from Sixt. It eventually turned round and went off down the lane back to the road without stopping anywhere.Very Strange. Think I'll ask my next door but one neighbour to get the other gates done ASAP. At least I know that the stones of the driveway crunch enough to wake me up. Once the gates are done anyone driving up the lane has to reverse all the way back again or try and turn round in next door's gate way. That should put people off coming back!
I got out on the bike on Tuesday - just a couple of miles but every little helps.
I got out on the bike on Wednesday too, biked down to the village church for their regular Wednesday coffee morning, I've been meaning to go ever since we moved here. The lady who used to live in my house still runs it and makes lovely cakes. Got all the way there and found roadworks outside with the water company digging things up and a notice on the fence "Sorry coffee morning cancelled due to roadworks and water being turned off" Ho Hum! Biked home again (after walking up the steep hill).
Before biking to the village I'd already driven to the Wednesday boot-sale (and back obviously!) - it was blinkin' chilly, the coldest morning of the autumn so far.
Didn't buy much just some apples for £1, eggs the same, new gloves also £1 and a huge chunky wooden block chopping board/pan stand for £2. I've sanded it down and scrubbed it with salt. Looks really good.
No swimming this week due to it being half term, and I've not been visiting family either but I have got lots of odd jobs done at home instead, letters written, birthday cards sorted. Tidying the toys in the conservatory and a wee bit of cleaning. I went shopping and printed out some photos from last weekend to share round the family, and in Adsa I discovered the lightweight muslin/nylon bags for sale, right beside the loose vegetables - clever marketing! at 3 for £1 they seem good value. They'll fold small enough to keep in my bag so I too can avoid buying plastic wrapping when loose veg or fruit are available.
Picked up this little book of poems in a charity shop, divided into the seasons, I'm planning to use a few on the blog.
Friday should have meant going to Diss to meet up with Norfolk Blogger Rachel but her septic tank problems have put off our meet up for a little while - Septic Tank Problems are one of the Joys of country living! and need sorting sooner rather than later.
Instead I made marmalade for the hampers and me. This time using a tin of the cheats ready prepared oranges with a tin of chopped pineapple, from an idea in the WI book of preserving. I've done orange and grapefruit, orange and whiskey and lemon and grapefruit but pineapple is a new one on me - I thought pineapple stops things setting but it seemed to be OK, and nice to try a different flavour. I know that some people would throw up their hands in horror at the thought of using the ready prepared tin but it's a darn sight easier than chopping all those Seville oranges........ I'd rather be doing something else.
Before it rained and got really windy I also cleaned the greenhouse glass, both inside and out, couldn't reach the top very well but the long handled car wash brush has loosened all the green muck outside, hopefully the rain then cleaned it even more.There is just one tomato plant left inside with a few small green tomatoes hanging on.
One problem with this weekend, and that's the clocks going back. I wrote about why we change the clocks HERE so won't repeat myself, still don't like it even after knowing why. Thankfully there should be something interesting book-wise, another giant second hand book sale.................. I'll write about it next week.
Hope your weekend is interesting too
Back Monday
Sue
PS Thank you for some comments I'd not noticed on some old posts from several days ago.
This year certainly has raced by....it feels like we didn't really even have summer. I like those gloves, exactly my sort of colours.
ReplyDeleteThere's always a glove and hat man at the autumn and winter car boot, I seem to buy a pair of gloves from him every year as gloves vanish between one year and another
DeleteYou are totally responsible for my conversion to pre prepped Oranges, added Ginger has gone down very well, must try pineapple. I had some Ginger wine hanging around and used that for the added liquid, better than drinking the stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe pineapple floated so I had to wait for it to cool down and then push it down in the jar before I could put the lids on. I think pineapple needs chopping much much smaller than what I did
DeleteThe days and weeks, months and years certainly do seem to fy past way too fast for my liking as well. Sounds like you have had a busy day (and week). A bit worrying about the van turning round in your driveway. We get a spate of burglaries in our area at this time of year....I think it is because with the various fireworks being set off, people ignore bangs and other noises more than normal...plus with the loss of sense of community. There have already been several in the roads near us.
ReplyDeleteThat poetry book looks familiar, I am wondering if I have it.
Have a good weekend. Yesterday was pretty bleak and windy here so I am hoping it will be better today, but it is still sounding windy and looking damp out there.
Fine morning but now really wet and nasty
DeleteI also use the prepared oranges, so much quicker. DB read somewhere that in the EU at least for now for us, each country will be able to decide the clock issue for themselves. Should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteThere is talk quite often about changes - but nothing happens
DeleteThis year is fast disappearing, I blink and a weeks gone !
ReplyDeleteExactly right!
DeleteI'll let you into a secret, having spent HOURS chopping up orange peel for marmalade many years ago, I have used Mamade ever since, so don't fret - it's the sensible option and frees up half a day!
ReplyDeleteTime has flown by but when I dissected a day recently, it had actually gone quite slowly, but I think when you are busier you pay less attention to jobs done. Anyway, we are nearly in November and get an extra hour in bed tonight, except I won't get any more sleep as I shall wake early as I normally do!
Good chopping book you bought. If only you were nearer - I could keep you well supplied with apples AND pears!
A friend in Essex has had good crops of apples but I know of several people with a really poor crop here in Suffolk.
DeleteThe cat will be very confused with the clock changes!
Ref. the worry over the van turning round late at night - perhaps he had gotten lost - but you can get recordings of scary large dog barking, so perhaps worthwhile investing in one of those should it ever happen again.
ReplyDeleteI hope it was just lost but in the middle of nowhere in a dead end lane - makes me wonder how
DeleteI know Sue, I don't know where the weeks go to. I keep thinking slow down, slow down but they won't. Youngest daughter is always crossing off days to something in the future. I never do I enjoy each one for what it is. Have a great weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteI remember my mum saying how quickly her days went and didn't believe it, Now I understand!
DeleteI cleaned my greenhouse glass yesterday too (inside and out). Heavy rain predicted for this afternoon should give it a final rinse.
ReplyDeleteI've just looked out and yes the rain has washed off the green that I didn't get right off - it looks so much better. ready for next year
DeleteI could see your tongue in your cheek talking about septic tanks being one of the joys of country living! Been there, done that, never want to do it again!
ReplyDeleteI use an appliance to shred my citrus but it still takes time to do. I've never tried pineapple, it sounds nice. I have tried ginger though, and enjoyed that mixed with orange, but will have to try the ginger wine as Sarah Dee suggests.
I'm glad the van turned around and left. It is always scary when unexpected people turn up in the middle of the night, especially when you are alone. I've experienced it a few times now (hubby used to work nights) and I always found it unsettling. Take care, Mxx
I've lived with septic tank drainage for more years than main sewer and it's fine until something goes wrong!
DeleteIt was a shame we couldn't meet and the septic tank business isn't finished either. I went out later in the afternoon and had a coffee in Waitrose and passed some time. October really does seem to have flown by. I don't mind the clock changes and we really do need light in the mornings.
ReplyDeleteI've found you a crossword dictionary!
DeleteWish the cat knew about clock changes, she'll be worrying me for days - she's a creature of habit, likes being fed at the same times every day
Mum uses the tins of marmalade and it tastes delicious. Unless you take great pleasure is doing things like chopping oranges, and I know some people do, then I agree with you, make your life easier wherever you can. Have a lovely weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought about variations on a tin of Mamade until finding the ideas in a book. Makes it much more interesting
DeleteTime seeming to go faster, as we age. Yes, think it is---->When young, our days stretch out in front of us, in an *endless* stream. So time can seem endless, also.
ReplyDeleteWhen we age, we "know", our days before us, are more easily numbered. So now, they seem more precious. And thus, they also seem to fly by.
Actually, it's all-in-the-mind. No young person, or older person, _knows_ how many days they have left. So why let our mind's perception, interfere with our life?????
🍁🍂🎃🍁🍎🍂🍁
Very true
DeleteOh no, you set clocks back, _this_ weekend! I so dislike this. I prefer to live, according to the Seasons. So I also prefer to live, according to the Sun. !!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete🍁🍂🎃🍁🍎🍂🍁
It always takes my body clock many days to change after the clocks go forward and back each year
DeleteViolet told me it was November next week, I told her she was wrong, it couldn't be, then realised she was totally correct.
ReplyDeleteThe van slinking along at that time of night would have scared the life out of me. Hope your neighbour can get the gates sorted swiftly.
I'm usually a lone voice, but I love the clocks going back!
My neighbour said "did you put the lights on so they knew that you knew they were there?" I said I wish I'd been awake enough to think of that, I was more worried about them backing into the conservatory.
DeleteA bit more "gate work" was supposed to be done this afternoon but it's a much to wet for that.
So "roadworks and water turned off" saved you from "lovely cakes," with the bike ride and the walk up the steep hill being a plus! Nothing like stairs and hills for taking off weight! Roderick
ReplyDeleteYou do seem more worried about my weight than I am!
DeleteThat's because I have experienced the benefits and the delights of losing lots of weight and feeling much, much better for doing so! Roderick
DeleteNo matter how slow I try and make a week go, it still speeds past! I never really minded the clocks changing, but since Karma (cat) was diagnosed as diabetic 5 years ago, it's a right pain in the neck. Trying to time her insulin injections for that first day of new time takes a bit of working out. I agree your chopping board looks really good, a real bargain:)
ReplyDeletePolly cat doesn't understand the time change either and my body clock takes days to re-set itself
DeleteCanada has six time zones. My province of British Columbia is giving up the time change next year. It will be interesting to see how it works with the other provinces still changing. Just like Paddington bear I love marmalade.
ReplyDeleteSaskatchewan never changes our time. Standard time all year round. I love it.
DeleteGod bless.
Standard time all year round sounds sensible
DeleteI think the older I get the faster time flies by.
ReplyDeleteNo clock changing here thank heavens we stay on Standard time year round.
God bless.
I wonder if it will ever happen here
DeleteThe older I get the faster time goes and I feel like I can hardly keep up sometimes! I cannot believe it is almost November. Our daylight savings time starts next weekend and I'm not looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI was up an hour too early thanks to the cat and the colder weather!
DeleteI hate the time change, it seems like everything gets screwed up!! I make marmalade using the can of mamade but it's quite expensive here, $9.00 which is 5pounds 37pence.
ReplyDeleteGoodness that is expensive - it's around £2 for a can here
DeleteI use Mamade too. Too much time needed to chop up the orange peel!
ReplyDeleteArilx
i found a couple of tins of Marmade in one of the discount shops for 50p , dont think anyone realised what it was , but it keeps for years so it can sit at theback of the cupboard till the urge strikes
ReplyDeleteWe change time next weekend. I'll be glad for the hour back. Fires raging 15 miles up the freeway in the canyons. Started near the Getty museum which is safe thanks to fire safety measures. Winds are supposed to rage the next few nights. Fall in Southern California.
ReplyDeleteI find orange marmalades that I buy for my Easter ham glaze and then forget when I change menus. The orange and whisky sounds good, I think I'd use bourbon.