Cheery's country living adventure

Cheery_Daff

Gym done, and now covid woman is late, which I suppose serves us right for forgetting when the guy was coming the other day, but even so 🙄

No reply from granite guy to my grouchy text yesterday - I should follow my instincts to be nice sometimes! Suspect he'll just ignore us now, but I'm not chasing anyone today.

Had an invoice for the boiler service and getting us up and running after the power cut - £170 for both of those things which I'm very happy to pay, so that's done. He's still trying to get hold of us a water heater for the utility room sink.

Also rang up to order a delivery of woodchip for the chicken run - we've just about finished the one from last year which was delivered on 21st December 😂 Might be after the new year but that's fine.

Might have another cuppa and a mince pie while I'm waiting for covid woman. Hope she gets a move on, I want to go and do some Christmas shopping!

EssexHebridean

The quality of life thing really isn't one to be forgotten, is it. I still remember the tremendous feeling of how different everything was when we got the bathroom sorted after several years of holes in flooring etc, and even more so possibly the difference the new windows and doors made to the warmth. As for the kitchen, well I had a little moment on Sunday when I walked into it and just stood and looked at it for a moment, wondering how on earth I came to have such a lovely kitchen! (Then reminded myself it was hard work and a LOT of money, so got over that and carried on with what I'd gone in there for!)

I'm extremely tempted to make a batch of mince pies tonight now - we've only had one lot so far and they were bought ones with slightly disappointing pastry!  

Cheery_Daff

I certainly won't forget any of this in a hurry 🙄😂

Mr Cheery reckons my mince pies are more like biscuits than pastry 🙄😂 Some improvement required! I know what I did wrong, but no need to make any more, no plans for visitors til after Christmas now I don't think.


Covid woman finally turned up (well, I had to go and get her as she'd followed the satnav and ignored the house signs I told her to look out for). All done now, so I can FINALLY go out.

Bunty chicken doesn't look well though, so that might be a trip to the vets tomorrow. It's always something, isn't it??

greenbee

If you're making mince pies, I swear by this pastry. It really is as good as they say it is. And as sticky. I've just made a batch and there is no chance of them lasting (and that was the last of my home made mincemeat at my mum's, as she told me she had 'lots' left from last year (about 3 tbsps). 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks greenbee, if I make any more I'll try that!

Fortune_Smiles

I was told that the secret to good pastry is to keep everything cold and handle as little as possible so I mix mine with a cutlery knife until it starts coming together and then just press it together before rolling.

Fortune x

EssexHebridean

I make pastry in the food processor. SO  much easier, and I confess, that and coleslaw are the two main reasons I actually HAVE a food processor!  

*ETA - and houmous

greenbee

EH - I used to do the same until I made this, but I only use it for mince pies, nothing else. Given that I use my food processor whenever possible, it’s worth the effort (also there’s less washing up!)

EssexHebridean

It lost me at the word "sticky" - I don't DO sticky! I use my Mum in Law's recipe and absolutely LOVE the results! 

Cheery_Daff

Thank you for all your pastry tips! Can't imagine I'll make any more this year - I don't usually bother, I was just getting over excited about the new oven 😂😂 I will knock us up some kind of Christmas cake though, likely just an amaretto-laced tea loaf with marzipan and icing on 😁

Not a bad trip out this afternoon, although it did feel rather rushed. I managed to get Mr Cheery 3 small presents, so that's a start at least. And I picked up a camping stove in case the power goes off again - at least it'll be much easier to make a cuppa than using the storm kettle (which requires lighting a small fire every time you use it, and which can only boil water). 

Bunty chicken looked better this afternoon apparently, so fingers crossed she was just having a moment and doesn't need a vet trip...