Get a grip woman!

EssexHebridean

Apologies but I DID chuckle at the idea of anyone voluntarily spending a weekend in Ongar...although the railway is quite nice! 

trix-a-belle

Me too EH
SL I've sent you a link, something that might be of use to the bee group that's just popped up for little if not free ninety nine

Suffolk_lass

Thanks @trix-a-belle, I have passed it on. We are off away in the van again tomorrow, retuning only on Sunday to get together the stuff we need for our hols and DIY for my Mum's place in Scotland, for which we leave on Monday after the morning rush.

Garden
I'm just making a single jar of raspberry compote to have in the van, so the raspberries don't get wasted. One of the team of three cat-feeders will also pick raspberries, so with luck and mild weather, there might be some still going when we get back. I need to get dressed and check the courgette situation too. We watered them yesterday, so expecting there may be yet more to pick. I cut the remaining tomatoes and cucumbers down in the greenhouse and DH emptied all the pots and spread the spent compost round trees, shrubs and rabbit holes in the garden. We never add this to the veg beds as it encourages blight. Apart from the borlotti beans and a couple of runners, the beans here have finished so I might clear those too. I also picked the meagre squash crop yesterday - about 20% of normal numbers and about 20% of normal size. The supermarket will be seeing my pension money for some of these this year!

House
The bed is stripped and the first of three loads is on. Two more cakes are made in loaf tins (the courgette, orange and carrot cake from BBC Good Food), to add to the three yesterday of the Nigella courgette and lime cakes, also in loaf tins (so much easier but they take ten minutes longer to cook) - and none with the icing or frosting in the recipes - they are sweet enough without.

Money
Oh and the Scottish Pwr people have processed our final bill (£12.04) and I have a pdf stored of this. We are expecting a refund of just over £460, most of which will be moved to Octopeds, as I have set the initial monthly debit at £150 (with a £250 starter once the DD has gone through (again, to fully re-enable the account).

Enough! I need to shop too so must dash

foxgloves

You are very busy with all your baking, garden crops, etc. Hope you enjoy your time away & that there won't be too much DIY up at your Mum's.
F

EssexHebridean

Busy busy! Have a wonderful trip away in case you don't get back here (or you do, but I miss you!) before you head away! 

rtandon27

Have a lovely trip SL!

Watty1

Wishing you a lovely trip

LadyWithAPlan

Just caught up on all the activity The bees sound fabulous and what a wonderful tasty thing to do for the community and the environment..
Enjoy your trips..

I have some cookers (apples)  from my parents so you have inspired me to attempt to stew and jar - I do have a pressure cooker but I never tried bottling  - just freeze  - any tips or  links on how to start sealing the apple jars would be much appreciated once you get back from your travels

themadvix

LadyWithAPlan said:

Just caught up on all the activity The bees sound fabulous and what a wonderful tasty thing to do for the community and the environment..
Enjoy your trips..

I have some cookers (apples)  from my parents so you have inspired me to attempt to stew and jar - I do have a pressure cooker but I never tried bottling  - just freeze  - any tips or  links on how to start sealing the apple jars would be much appreciated once you get back from your travels

LWAP, SL gave me some lovely instructions on my diary last year, which can be found here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6341083/so-close-we-can-smell-mortgage-freedom/p36. Hth!

badmemory

Use for cookers - apple batter pudding.  Also rhubarb.  I prefer it to crumble.