Life is a minestrone as the song says - my new diary

teapot2

Karmacat said:

I'm envious of your energy to go foraging, it sounds brilliant.  My sister was gifted some cooking apples, which she gifted on to me, and I'm going to try to use them tomorrow, with my own rhubarb, and freeze ready to make crumble. 

The point you made a few days ago about austerity is going to come true, I think - all sorts of things that we think of a civilised country as having, will gradually disappear, I fear

Hi KC, yes I enjoy the foraging and appreciate being able to physically do it and live in the area with lots of bounty but am mindful not to go overboard as I then have to process all the gatherings of course!!  There are lots of rosehips around this year and I was thinking of making some syrup as it is so full of vitamins but I've been slightly put off by the need to make sure they are free of the fine irritant hairs they contain.  I think it might involve a couple of goes at straining through cloth so a bit fiddly.  Will see how I get on with attempting other things first.
Hope you get your gifted bounty processed, I've also got rhubarb in the garden to use up, I might stew some apple and rhubarb to freeze and use as a porridge topping over the winter.  

teapot2

Having a lazy day so far and ignoring my 'to do' list   The promised warmer weather has not arrived here yet as its cold, showery and windy but hopefully it might warm up this afternoon 'cos I've a few things I'd like to do in the garden.  I used a voucher to order a couple of Geoff Hamilton gardening books which have now arrived and am looking forward to having a read.  He is one of my favourites, way ahead of his time I think and very down to earth.  Even OH who wasn't the least bit interested in gardening used to watch his programmes .  
I met with family outside in a park with a café a couple of days ago, including sister who I haven't seen for a couple of months as they've been away at their other house.  Glad we did that when we did as it wouldn't be allowed next week - only three of us plus a tiny human but from 3 separate households .
Yesterday morning I caught up with a bit of housework, hoovered through and washed all the floors, cleaned the wet room and did a washing .  In the afternoon met with a friend at the GC for a catch up which was lovely as was the cheese scone I had 🤤.  Talked for so long the place was almost empty by the time we left!
CCs are paid apart from the one which is due at the end of the month and I might try to knock a bit more off in the next couple of weeks.  Need to do a money shuffle after I write this in case I forget....  I cashed out £25 on 1poll this week so that will arrive in a few weeks, have done a couple of Ugov surveys as well and Prolific is just over £30 when it all gets paid so will probably cash out there this week.  
Carrot, coriander and sweet potato soup for lunch and I made frittata on Fri eve some will have that for tea and make some coleslaw to go with it so food sorted for today.  Right better get off the settee and do something useful after the money shuffle.

beanielou

I am having a PJ day 😊. 🐱 

the_cross_rabbit

Sounds like you have had some nice days out teapot2, very jealous of your cheese scone. I miss scones, gluten free ones are🤢. We have a socially distancing meet up with family today before the restrictions come into force. We were supposed to be having a big family get together before DD1 goes to uni in 2 weeks time hence today. No hugs though. 
CRx

Karmacat

That sounds a great few days, teapot!  I'll need to check on the rule of six if its still in force at Christmas - there'll be five of us, but from four different households!  Hmmm. 

teapot2

the_cross_rabbit said:

Sounds like you have had some nice days out teapot2, very jealous of your cheese scone. I miss scones, gluten free ones are🤢. We have a socially distancing meet up with family today before the restrictions come into force. We were supposed to be having a big family get together before DD1 goes to uni in 2 weeks time hence today. No hugs though. 
CRx

Aw thats a shame re the GF scones, I had a cheese and mustard scone the other day which was a v good combination [not rubbing it in BTW - and thats not a scone making pun either 😁].  Social gatherings are hard aren't they, I miss hugs though I do hug the tiny humans if they are in the mood for a hug and also their mum as we are in a support bubble but no friend hugs .  I hope you were all still able to enjoy your family meet up x

teapot2

Karmacat said:

That sounds a great few days, teapot!  I'll need to check on the rule of six if its still in force at Christmas - there'll be five of us, but from four different households!  Hmmm. 

I think it will be tricky for lots of families if that is still the case around Christmas but we will have to wait and see.  Somehow I doubt Bozzer's assertion that things will be back to normal by then!!

teapot2

Well I had a pretty lazy day in the end yesterday but not feeling guilty.  I picked lots of Basil leaves plus some carrots and made pesto with the carrot tops and basil.  Its one of my favourite things and I'd run out so now have a few wee pots of it in the freezer again.  Otherwise I did some exercise then watched some programmes I'd saved and caught up on diaries on here.  Also Skyped a friend for over an hour and caught up with each others news.
Its mild today and the wind has finally died away which is good, very cloudy so not sunny though that might change later.  I've an online sale to post so will do that in a bit and also get some more spring onions and if its open and there isn't a long queue, I'll have a look in the only open charity shop.  I've some work admin to do later as well and might collect some more brambles.  Theres a bottle of whisky in the cupboard and I don't drink it so might try making bramble whisky which is meant to be good and that can go for presents in a few months.

teapot2

Ooops nearly a month since I posted didn't realise it was so long 🙄.  There have been a few developments, I'm now on meds for hypertension, don't feel great about that but lots of family history on both sides of strokes and heart probs.  That has involved various trips to the medical centre over the weeks which has been quite a surreal experience.  Also got called for jury duty which would have involved 4 bus journeys to and from an out of town retail park.  I've been avoiding public transport since March and am at higher risk re Covid on a few counts so have got an excusal letter which was accepted but found the process quite stressful.  Wouldn't object to being called in normal circs but that scenario felt like it put me at risk.  We are now in a tighter lockdown than much of Scotland which has felt like a step back but at least the schools are still open as are the shops.  Feel sorry for restaurants and pubs though, suspect some will not survive.  One café has closed permanently this week, just wasn't viable any more 😥 .   
I managed to do an application for the job I already have that is being reorganised.  I struggled to find the motivation [not for the job just for writing a personal statement], the invitation to apply had 16 different sections to be answered some of it related to stuff I did almost 20 years ago so much rummaging in files but in the end I wrote 3 pages and sent in my updated CV with it.  Just got to wait now.  Work has been tiring so am taking a weekend off and not doing any emails or work related bits and pieces.  
Its really chilly today and getting darker already so am under a blanket on the settee and have put the heating on as well.  Got my energy bill yesterday and am still in credit which is good news as I'm obviously at home all the time and will be over the winter I imagine.  
My vague plan for today was to get some more elder berries and make elder vinegar but the lure of the settee won out so maybe tomorrow......  I've done quite well with other foraged bits and have made apple and chilli jelly, bramble, elder and apple jelly, bramble whisky and rosehip syrup so far.  I don't drink whisky myself but there was an unopened bottle from when OH's friends were coming to visit to say goodbye to him so I used that.  Apparently it tastes very different and the longer its left the better it tastes so that will do for presents at some point.  I walked past the apple tree at the end of the road the other day and its still got lots of fruit so might need to pay another visit 🤨.
I'm going to make some Caponata after I finish this post from HFW's book and that will 'mature' over the next couple of days and I really like the  vaguely sweet and sour flavour.  My tea is going to be smoked haddock risotto I think and if I cba might make some soup as well.
Money wise, all is ticking over, paid the CC's yesterday  and as usual I'm waiting to be paid for a couple of bits of work and once that arrives will overpay the cards and hopefully pay one of them off completely as its now sub £200.  That will leave me with 2 cards to pay off - both 0%.
I need to have a think about where to stash my emergency fund now that NS & eye are dropping their interest rate next month.  
Right better get a wriggle on and start cooking - apologies for the long waffly post, thats what happens when I don't write one for a few weeks!! 

the_cross_rabbit

Glad your ok teapot2. Hope all goes well with job.
CRx