Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

themadvix

SC, more than happy to have it tbh, the garden needs it!

NG - I had fish, chips (pub not chip shop) and peas; DH had sweet and sour pork belly with oriental noodles. Both huge portions!

newgirly

 Very nice 😁

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Not a lot to report here. Got the garden looking quite tidy over the weekend. Made a banana loaf yesterday to use up some of the not-as-green-as-I-would-like bananas in our delivery. Apparently making banana loaf is a lockdown craze... I thought it was just something you did to save bananas from going manky? Usual walks, video calls with family etc. Nothing exciting to report! We are having a BBQ tonight, which will be nice and I made some rolls for it earlier.

Little bits of wor trickling in, but nothing much. Have caught up on my evening class work this afternoon as we're keeping going without a lesson at the moment - the teacher is sending us stuff to do and we're keeping in touch with each other.

My next task for today is to write a quick note to my Dad's neighbour and ask them to put notes through the doors to invite them all for a 'drink' next Saturday - they're all good neighbours and I'm sure will turn out into their front gardens to say 'Cheers' to dad. Sister and I will both visit, separately, to deliver presents and food and say hi, but obviously that won't take up much of the day (Sis will likely take niece and they'll play in the garden with Dad inside). Hopefully Dad will appreciate the idea (of the neighbourly drink).

MS things:
* Clicks done
* Work done

Gratitudes:
* Lovely long walk by myself this morning (DH was working). Did 8k steps. It's amazing how much safer I feel walking around in the fields on my own at the moment - both because there are more people about (but still blissfully quiet) and because people won't come near you! Didn't really want to come back
* Breakfast, lunch and probably dinner in the garden
* Good video calls with family yesterday - but we are all running out of things to say!

Hope you're all having a good day and staying safe x

Suffolk_lass

We have the same as I am talking to my Mum every day - we have moved it from the morning (just a text now) to a 6pm call that can be phone or Zoom. I will suggest Zoom tonight and make sure I am in the greenhouse so I can walk her round that and she can see the blossom on the fruit trees and the seedlings growing inside it. 

We did a very different walk to our usual which included a 3.8 mile stroll round to the bluebell woods - glorious smell of English bluebells, very evocative of my childhood. I had forgotten how strong their perfume can be in the sunshine. This was based on a short conversation with some neighbours at the other end of the Village who recommended it.

I'm sure your Dad will be pleased at the thought going into his birthday, even if the circumstances are a bit different. Stay safe x

themadvix

Thanks SL - glad it's not just us running out of conversation! The tour of the greenhouse sounds lovely! The perfume of the bluebells is really strong (and gorgeous), isn't it? 

themadvix

Morning all (if I'm quick!),

Had a really long walk this morning as I need to learn to read OS maps properly! Kept thinking something was a path and it turned out not to be. So was out for an hour and a half in the end. Feels good though and I found somewhere new (which is tricky as DH and I have explored in most directions). My strawberry plants arrived today, but the guidance says they won't crop until next year So no strawbs for us now. At least my raspberry is going strong! Will need to plant the strawbs up today. 

I am also going to have a go at making croissants! I think this could take a while, so lockdown is an ideal opportunity!

MS things:
* Clicks
* Tiny bit of work
* Free exercise

Gratitudes
* Lovely long walk
* Warm sunshine
* Banana and chocolate cake

Have a good day all!

Busy_Mee

Your walks sound lovely MadVix and the weather is certainly making all of this bearable. We have been walking further afield with the pup and discovering new footpaths. I feel so lucky to live a such a nice rural spot. I cannot imagine what it must be like living in a city at the moment.
Our bluebells are out too. This is quite early for Yorkshire but I am not complaining. We also have lots of mauve and white flowers out that I didn't recognise....after checking Dr Google I think they are Dame's Violet. Such a vivid mauve colour.

Mmm croissants...they sound nice. I have also been using lockdown to cook and bake things I have never made before. I just think at the moment you have to try and find pleasure wherever you can x

themadvix

Thanks Busy Mee! Yes, the weather is good for those of us with gardens. But I feel for my sister stuck in a third-floor flat with a three-year-old, although she (niece) is now getting to be a good walker and can do a good couple of miles without too much complaining. I expect that living in a city has different charms - more looking in windows for rainbows and teddies (yes, as an adult on my own I do this wandering around the streets ) and finding new paths and roads - different but still interesting (if you're of the right mindset).

The croissants are on their final prove now and look good. You have to trim the dough to a rectangle but the recipe doesn't say what to do with the trimmings... obviously, improvise and try some cinnamon and sultana rolls and one very special chocolatey croissant! It wouldn't be MSE to waste the trimmings, would it?!

In garden news, I've planted my strawbs up - all in the raised bed for now as I don't have any potting compost. I topped up the bed with our homemade compost - carefully sieved, with the natural remnants going back in for a second decompose and any rubbish removed. Was quite pleased with the quality of it but there's not enough to do the pots. Compost is on order from the garden centre though (if they ever get back to me - they've now closed for new orders as they are so busy). Once I have the compost, I'll move some of the strawbs around and give two to BIL and GF. In super exciting news, one of my BBE 2013 patty pan squash seeds has come up! Also have two runner bean seedlings now. Having killed my tomato plants, I've ordered some seeds - no idea where I'll put them, but I'll find space.

To top off the croissants and strawbs, BIL called round with a delivery of Easter eggs from the in-laws (he works near them and had had to go into the office today). It was nice to see him and the chocolate is very welcome

Hope you've all had good days too.

South_coast

OMG, I really want a croissant now! 

themadvix

So do I... this is the  longest 1 hour ever!!

ETA: Keep forgetting to say (and it is the only MSE-relevant item!) that our car insurance (x2) is with Admiral, so £50 heading our way Very impressed with them for this - it won't be forgotten.