Away From The Madding Crowd

Humboldt

Afternoon @uralmaid,  DH and I have also been busy in the garden this week.  Lots of digging, weeding and pruning done. Having removed several ornamental grasses that were no longer looking their best, I now have a few gaps to fill.  I would like some late summer/autumn colour, but need to take into account the clay soils (soggy in the winter/baked in the summer). I shall spend a bit of time researching and find the best options. 

I could relate to many of the foods from the 70's when reading Toast.  So much so, I added gammon and pineapple to our menu last week!

I cleaned the walls, skirting, and doors in the hallway last week.  This week, in preparation for the panelling, DH has marked out the walls with the chalk line.  Measuring and costing has been done, so next on the list is the ordering and collection of materials.  Hopefully this will be completed next week (doggy sitting for family this week). 

Today's simple pleasure - an early morning doggy walk. It felt like we had the world to ourselves for the majority of the walk.

uralmaid

Busy times in the gardens now.  I have some gaps to fill and also some large pots which I want to fill with Busy Lizzy ettc but am waiting until we get back from our Scottish trip.  

The gammon and pineapple reminded me of my Dad. He would only ever eat plain food (no foreign muck) as he called it, but whenever we went anywhere he would always have gammon and pineapple which for him was a gastronomic delight.

It sounds like the hallway is well in hand and hopefully the panelling will look great.  Pics please.

My guilty pleasure this week was watching the VE day celebrations on tv and the minute we saw the Lancaster bomber fly up the Mall and over the palace, I was sobbing like an old fool.  Living in Lincolnshire the Lancaster is very special to us. Also from a very young age I have always had an interest in the second world war and love everything about the era.  In my 20's and 30's I was part of a theatre group performing 1940's shows around West Yorkshire too.  

Have a good weekend everyone - the weather is supposed to be good.

Humboldt

Morning @uralmaid I watched the VE day concert celebrations on tv yesterday evening.  Lots of very moving stories and tributes. Lest we forget. 

Enjoy your Scottish trip.

Today's simple pleasure - the hedgerows are now filled with billowy, lace-like cow parsley.  Such a pretty sight.

Humboldt

Hello and welcome.

Motivational quote of the week.

The best of life is life lived quietly, where nothing happens but our calm journey through the day, where change is imperceptible and the precious life is everything – from the book 'All Will Be Well: A Memoir' by John McGahern.

Money saving.

Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £250.  Week 2 spend for May was £57.47.  Total spend for May to date is £129.35.

£24 made via my crafting.  Monies paid into the Birthday/Christmas account.

Received confirmation of our new fixed rate ISA’s.

Made a jar of quick pickled radishes (R@chel Co0ks recipe) with a bag of perfectly good radishes that had been reduced to 14p. You could substitute apple cider vinegar for most vinegars.  The pickling process takes an hour and they will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.  Yummy on salads, avocado on toast, with a cheese board, Mexican style foods, etc.

This week’s main menu.

Monday – Goats cheese and wild garlic pesto pizza.  Pesto is homemade and from the freezer.

Tuesday – Sweet chilli salmon and king prawn fishcakes, a small portion of sweet potato oven chips, sweetcorn, and peas.  Fishcakes were reduced in price and frozen until required.  To fully utilise the oven, I will bake a multi grain sourdough.

Wednesday – Aubergine parmigiana orzo (BB( Fo0d recipe).  A new to us recipe.  The orzo was reduced in price and is still well in date.

Thursday – A big soup (H@iry D!eter’s recipe) with a hunk of homemade wholemeal sourdough.  I will swap the kale for rainbow chard from the garden, and use the other half of the chorizo for Sunday’s recipe.  I will reduce the liquid content and cook in the slow cooker.

Friday – Slow cooker chicken with apricots (P!nch of N0m recipe) with a small portion of whole-wheat couscous.

Saturday – Fish and chips takeaway.

Sunday – Spanish style chicken bake (H@iry D!eter’s recipe).  I will add more veg and use a mixture of new and sweet potatoes (adding the sweet potatoes a little later because they don’t need as long to cook).  Oregano will be from the garden.  To fully utilise the oven, I will bake a multi grain seeded sourdough.

Healthier lifestyle.

Last week’s step count was 81,733.

Completed 5 free meditations last week.

Completed 0 free online workouts last week. 

Simple pleasures.

Doggy sitting last week.  Lovely to be out walking first thing on a morning, and again early evening. Thankfully the weather has been kind.

Family sharing holiday pics and receiving reassuring doggy pics in return.

I weeded, pruned and ‘generally sorted’ the plants in our largest garden border.  I want to add some perennials for late summer colour, so will be researching what might be suitable (clay soil/full sun).  Several hours spent in the garden – Bliss.

Whilst doggy walking in a field, the swallows swooped so low that I felt I could have reached out and touched them.    

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.

Humboldt

Hello and welcome.

Motivational quote of the week.

A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went – John C Maxwell.

Money saving.

Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £250.  Week 3 spend for May was £73.66.  Total spend to date is £203.01.

2 pairs of new spectacles.  Bought one pair, and got the other pair free.

Took advantage of Saver Monday prices at the cinema, paying £4.99 a ticket, saving £5.51 each.  The cinema also offers Silver Screenings one day a week for those aged 60 and over, saving the same amount (some cinemas include a cuppa and biscuit at these screenings). T&Cs apply for both, but it may be worth checking out offers at your local cinema.

S@insbury’s were selling Sens0dyne Pr0enamal toothpaste for only £1.13 (clearance price).  No date (does toothpaste have a date?), so can only assume that the peppermint flavour was not popular.  Anyway, I picked up 2 boxes and left plenty for others.

Our energy provider now offers 2 hours free electric each week.  I have booked our slots and will take full advantage of the promotion.

This week’s main menu.

Monday –  Roasted vegetables, whole-wheat couscous, Moroccan hummus, and a dollop of minted 0% fat Greek yogurt.  To fully utilise the oven yesterday, I cooked today's roasted vegetables.  The hummus was reduced in price, and the mint was from the garden.

Tuesday – Toad in the hole (a recipe from the Co0kSm@rt recipe book), with carrots, new potatoes, spring greens, and gravy.  Chives are from the garden.  To fully utilise the oven, I will bake a multi grain sourdough.

Wednesday – Ping meal (as above) – cook once, eat twice (saves on time and energy costs).

Thursday – Beans on sourdough toast (just me and a movie of my choice this evening).

Friday – Chinese chicken and mushroom (slow cooker recipe), noodles, and vegetable stir-fry.

Saturday – Macaroni cheese surprise (He@rt UK recipe).  The surprise is that this recipe includes lots of vegetables of your choice.  To fully utilise the oven, I will bake the potatoes for tomorrow’s meal.

Sunday – Three bean & tuna salad (He@rt UK recipe), baked potato with a dollop of low-fat cream cheese and chives.  Chives are from the garden.

Weekday breakfasts continue to be mainly oat based.  Our oats of choice are K@vanagh organic oats from Ald! (1kg for £2.19).  Lunches consist of soups from the freezer, salads, lots of tinned fish, etc, plus a homemade smoked mackerel pate this week.

Healthier lifestyle.

Last week’s step count was 46,937.

Completed 5 free meditations last week.

Completed 2 free online workouts last week.

Simple pleasures.

DH and I attended one of the many annual events in our local town.  It was well attended and a fun afternoon out.

Sowed some ‘love in the mist’ seeds in the garden border.  My carrot and radish seeds have germinated in the veg boxes and my new potatoes are also doing well.

A long walk in nature with DH.  We took a picnic, but bought ice creams when we had finished.  Perfect.

Books read 07/2025 – This too Shall Pass ‘Stories of Change, Crisis, and Hopeful Beginnings’ – Julia Samuel (loaned by a friend).

If change is the natural order of things, why do we struggle with the milestones in life? At a time when our lives have been disrupted (a reference to COVID-19), acclaimed psychotherapist Julia Samuel provides an antidote to the chaos we perhaps felt.

Drawing on hours of conversations with her patients, Julia shows how we can learn to adapt and even thrive during our most difficult and transformative experiences. 

Illuminated by the latest research, these nineteen unforgettable and deeply intimate stories about everyday people will improve the way we approach challenges at every stage of life. 

An interesting and thought provoking read.

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.

Working_Mum

Humboldt said:

Books read 07/2025 – This too Shall Pass ‘Stories of Change, Crisis, and Hopeful Beginnings’ – Julia Samuel (loaned by a friend).

If change is the natural order of things, why do we struggle with the milestones in life? At a time when our lives have been disrupted (a reference to COVID-19), acclaimed psychotherapist Julia Samuel provides an antidote to the chaos we perhaps felt.

Drawing on hours of conversations with her patients, Julia shows how we can learn to adapt and even thrive during our most difficult and transformative experiences. 

Illuminated by the latest research, these nineteen unforgettable and deeply intimate stories about everyday people will improve the way we approach challenges at every stage of life. 

An interesting and thought provoking read.

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.

Hello Humboldt,
Your update sounds lovely as always.

I love Julia Samuels - she writes lots about grief and her books are always thought provoking. I caught Change Your Mind - Change Your Life last night on iPlayer - it is hosted by Emma and Matt Willis (who've been super honest about their challenges as a family) and the programme was fascinating.JS worked with a lady who had lost her Mum at 15 and now had 3 young children of her own. The impact of the work she did with JS was writ large on her face - it was transformational. I watched and learned and refreshed a few things I had forgotten. 

Wishing you a lovely week - it will not surprise you to know I'm heading into my garden after walking the dog after work!

((WM))

Humboldt

Hi @Working_Mum thank you for taking the time to comment. 

This was the first book by Julia Samuels that I have read.  I wouldn't have chosen the book, but a kind friend often loans me books that are passed on to her by someone who receives them free (she works in a book shop).  The book covers changes within family relationships, love, work, health and identity.  It concludes with the 8 Pillars of Strength, for times of change. 8 Pillars of Strength is a framework to find the attitudes, the ways of being and the good habits that will help build our strength to manage the highs and lows throughout our lives.  Whilst the author remained professional at all times, she also displayed empathy, which made the book more engaging than some that just quote a myriad of referencing and research.

I saw the programme that you mentioned advertised, but haven't actually watched it.  Maybe one to find on catch-up. 

Enjoy your garden. 

Today's simple pleasure -  noticing the Stipa Gaigantea (golden oats) in the garden glowing in the sunshine and gently swaying in the breeze.

BrilliantButScary

Hi @Humboldt,
Just thought I would share my simple pleasures from a trip to a local nature reserve today with my DH.
We saw and heard a cuckoo. We also saw a Cob and Pen with 8 cygnets, it reminded me of those old-fashioned ornaments in the shape of a swan, that everyone had at one time! We caught a glimpse of a weasel, nesting grebes, quite a few butterflies, in particular Orange Tips and finally a blue tit nesting at the back of a road traffic sign.

Have you been doing any more genealogy?
I haven't recently, as I find it to be more of a Winter hobby.

I think a weekend at home is on the agenda for us, to avoid Bank Holiday crowds.

Humboldt

Morning @BrilliantButScary so kind of you to share your simple pleasures.  I remember those ornaments! We also love a day out at a Nature Reserve. How lucky you were to catch a glimpse of a weasel.

Regarding your genealogy query... I have managed to consolidate my research to date for my grandma on my fathers side.  Sadly, she died the year after I was born, so I know very little about her.  My research has revealed a few surprises, and I would like to explore these further by seeking information beyond names, dates, locations, etc.  I'm going to start with local newspapers that are available online. Genealogy is fascinating, but also very time consuming (in a nice way).  We have been making the most of the nice weather, so I have spent less time on it recently.  I can understand why you find it to be more of a winter hobby. 

Humboldt

Motivational quote of the week.

No amount of money ever bought a second of time – Tony Stark.

Money saving.

Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £250.  Week 4 spend for May was £61.04. Total spend to date is £264.05. This month I have stocked up on our favourite decaff coffee whilst on offer @ £6.65, and bought 2 x 500ml bottles of Tosc@no PGI extra virgin olive oil reduced to £4.98 in S@insbury’s.  So, I am already over budget with 5 weeks to cover for May.  I am grateful that I can roll with this, but empathise with those who do not have this option, because for many years neither did I.

Gained £38.00 annual interest on a savings account.

Made £27 via my crafting. Monies added to the Christmas/Birthday account.

I was offered a free loyalty card when I bought a little something from a RSPB gift shop.  The card offers 2 points for every £1 that you spend.  Every 100 points are worth £1.  When you activate the card, you get 100 bonus points.  Not a lot, but I long since learnt that every little helps.

Bought 2 Wh!te Stuff tee shirts (new with tags) from a charity shop for only £3 each.

Took advantage of Sainsbury’s buy 6 bottles of wine and save 25% off, saving £10.90 (alcohol is not included in our grocery budget).

Spent over £80 at B+Q on materials for the hallway makeover, and was able to use a £12 code received via the B+Q’s Members Club.  It is free to join and I often receive money off codes.  Free delivery via click and collect.

This week’s main menu.

Monday – Sticky pork with cranberries  (G0od F0od recipe), new potatoes, spring greens and carrots.  Pork was reduced in price and frozen until required.  Cranberry sauce is homemade and from the freezer.

Tuesday – Eating out with family.

Wednesday – Shakshuka (Leil@ Hedjem’s recipe) with garlic & mozzarella flatbreads.  Flat breads were reduced in price and frozen until required.  Organic eggs were also reduced (best before 06 June).  Large vine ripened tomatoes were only 89p a pack at Ald!’s this week.

Thursday - Chicken curry with a small portion of brown rice.  I will use a jar of W@itrose readymade korma sauce for this and cook the curry in the slow cooker.

Friday – Lentil bolognaise and whole-wheat spaghetti.  Using a tin of green lentils instead of beef mince, not only makes this a very economical meal, but it is a healthier choice for us.  Green lentils are just 49p a tin.

Saturday – Cajun-spiced fish with hot salsa (from one of my recipe scrap books). Salmon was reduced in price and frozen until required.

Sunday – BBQ (weather permitting) - Wagyu beef burgers, vegetable kebabs, and corn on the cob.  Burgers were reduced in price and frozen until required.

Healthier lifestyle.

Step count for last week was 49,063.

Completed 4 free meditations last week.

Completed 2 free online workouts last week.

Simple pleasures.

Potted on my tomato seedlings.  I am aware that they are late, but I am optimistic that they will catch-up when I finally plant them outside.  

DH and I visited an RSPB reserve.  A fabulous day out, with knowledgeable staff and a wide variety of birds in different environments. Homemade cheese and chive scones in our picnic (P@ul Hollywo0d’s recipe).  Chives were from the garden.

A calm afternoon spent crafting, with mellow jazz for company.

Rescued a bunch of beautiful yellow roses, purple stocks, and gypsophila (reduced from £7.50 to £2.78).

Whilst dropping off some books at our community book swap, I picked up a copy of this month’s G0od Fo0d magazine that someone had kindly donated.  A peaceful time spent reading it, with a cuppa in my summerhouse.

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.