From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5, Lucielle and SH.

The chocolate courgette cake has turned out well. It seems like a not -too -sweet chocolate brownie. Here is the recipe -
120g butter
125ml sunflower oil
300g sugar
3 eggs
130 ml milk
350g plain flour
4 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla essence
450g peeled and grated courgettes.

I mixed the butter and oil together, then worked my way through the ingredient list, whisking each item into the mixture. Scrape the mixture into a lined baking tray sized tin and cook for 35-45 mins.

DD1 was as good as her word and I came home from work to find tea cooking in the oven😀. Still report writing at the moment but hope to be finished this week. I want to get them finished so that I feel free to get out to the allotment more!

Last night we took DD1 round one of our Lockdown walking routes, a firm favourite through various fields with far reaching views from coast to moor. The blackberry flowers are everywhere at the moment. Last night was lovely to see the grass seed heads rippling in the breeze and glinting in the sunlight. I love the hedgerows at this time of year with the honeysuckle, campion and cow parsley making for a colourful mix. I know I need to savour it because it won’t be long before the hedges are cut back. In one field yesterday, we saw a deer at the far end - we stood watching until she bounded  away.

I was able to pick a decent bunch of sweet peas from the allotment. Such a lovely fragrance. DD2 and DD3 were able to harvest a tub of purple mangetout, a tub of gooseberries and  a tub of blackcurrants. Most has gone into the freezer so as not to waste it.

janb5

Hiya HSl- thank you for the recipe- duly copied and will try that.
Excellent haul from the allotment..I`m sure there`s quite a few crumbles there!
I bet DD1 is loving being at home.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5.  Yes she’s glad to be home🙂.

Finally finished my reports yesterday so that’s a weight off my mind! I have a few work tasks to do today, including catching up on a CPD course. I’m aiming to get to a beach at some point today as I think the beaches will be much more crowded from Saturday onwards.

Payday was on Tuesday  so a couple of saving pots, including the EF have a bit more in them and another payment has gone out for the window loan. Slowly but surely it’s coming down!

Trying to think ahead a little for the budget and remembered I need to factor in bus fares for DD3 as she starts college in September and school uniform for DS3 as he starts school 😮 - it will seem odd after he’s been at home for months, that’s  assuming education returns to normal.

DD2 &3 both had part time jobs in the hospitality sector but haven’t heard anything at all about whether they are expected back at work this weekend or not. I’m assuming not at this stage. DD1 had a lovely idea about having a celebratory cream tea in the garden to mark her finishing her degree, DD2 finishing her course and DD3 finishing Y11. I thought it was a good idea, especially as DD1 has missed out on end of term events and her graduation ceremony is postponed and DD3 has missed out on her prom. I know it’s not the same but doing something to mark the event is a good idea.

Sun_Addict

Your walk sounds idyllic. Great idea to do the cream tea in the garden as a way of marking the end of term events, it would be a shame to just let it pass by. 

Humdinger1

HSL

Just checking in to say how fab it all sounds; apart from EH, that is.  You're not to blame for the massive reality check he's due to get at the hands of the legal system.  You've done everything possible to keep things running smoothly,  but he's just taken advantage of that.  Limbo suits him as it extends the window where he can try to do the control freak bit.  As usual,  you are magnificent and are doing just the right thing.   Love Humdinger x 

Cherryfudge

What a lovely idea the cream tea is! I hope you get a break in the weather (it's wet here) but those events are certainly worth marking. I can picture you all with bunting and lavish cakes!

enthusiasticsaver

Great idea to have a cream tea in the garden as a celebratory picnic. 

crazy_cat_lady

I wish that I could come along to your garden cream tea. It sounds amazing

XSpender

The cream tea is a lovely idea.  I love a cream tea 

janb5

Do you think we could gatecrash....  !