Saturday 30th September - "Travelling" Shortbread

This is orange and chocolate shortbread from the Jamie Oliver "Take 5 Ingredients" cookbook.

It looks pretty much like the picture in the book.

Appearances can be deceptive...

This travelled through many byways before reaching eating point. It all started because I wanted to make Nutella biscuits, which a pupil gave me after their lesson last week. We've got as far as buying the Nutella, but the eggs in the fridge would probably have hatched by now if they hadn't been chilled, so had to be chucked. So, shortbread it had to be. But, for various reasons, measuring out the ingredients didn't go exactly as planned.

So, at one point I added a little more flour because it was so sticky. Then I added some orange juice as well as the zest because it was too dry. But, in order to stop it turning into pastry, I added a few drops of olive oil...  Maybe I should had balanced it out with a bit of sugar? It tastes OK... I made some before which was pronounced too crumbly. Maybe third time lucky?

Next task is to buy eggs before I eat all the Nutella.

Wednesday 27th September - Sunflowers

The first lot, grown from seed a hundred years ago in the Spring, were eaten by slugs, but the second lot are making a brave attempt to flower;

By the time I got round to planting them out, their roots were matted together, so I just thrust the tray of earth into a tub which is full of daffodil bulbs, added some more earth and a support and hoped for the best. I might try a similar method of ignorance and brutal neglect next year. It worked much better than the tender loving car that the first seedlings received.

This white Japanese anenome is very important to me. It was given to me by a friend several years ago, and again, suffers from annual neglect. Well, Chris was a stubborn lady, hardy, self-sufficient, and full of admirable qualities, and this flower which, turns up long after the common pink anenomes are over, is constant and reliable in spite of my own forgetfulness. Like Chris. She died at the beginning of the year, and I miss her dearly. 

What about these roses? Himself "dead-headed" them - ie chopped them back by quite a length - in late Summer, and here they are again! (The "downstairs" cat is pretending not to notice the camera; note the artfully casual arrangement of paws and tail) 

These last few days have been suddenly sunny and warm. Yesterday I sat out in the car park at Nymans Gardens to eat my packed lunch. The thought of the enclosed staff room on such a beautiful day was so unattractive. "Forest-Bathing" has become "a thing"; apparently there is scientific evidence to show that spending time in woodland has all kinds of health benefits; the quote below is from wikipedia. Apparently pine forests are best, because of breathing in  

volatile substances, called phytoncides (wood essential oils), which are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds derived from trees, such as α-Pinene and limonene.

Forest bathing is the practice of taking a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits. The practice originated in Japan where it is called shinrin-yoku (森林浴) in Japanese (it is also called sēnlínyù (森林浴) in Mandarin and sanlimyok (산림욕) in Korean).

Shinrin Yoku Samurai Spain 侍

Studies in Japan have measured changes in immune markers and stress hormones in people who regularly walked in specific forests in Japan. In addition, people with diabetes but not taking insulin found substantial benefits by lowering blood glucose levels.

I may yet give it a bit of a go - in sunny weather...

Sunday 24th September - Happy Anniversary?

It is our fortieth wedding anniversary this weekend.

Who would have thought we would have stayed together for so long?

Well, me, for one. Not as in "taking it for granted"way, but as in, for me, "being married to this man is the very best of all options, ever", way.

Anyway, how to celebrate? I'm so glad we didn't plan a huge friends and family party weekend affair. It is three weeks into the new school year, and I am absolutely zonked out. I've also temporarily left the human race and become a - what shall we say - no, I won't type the word that comes into my mind. Just use your imagination; I have a HUGE box of tissues to hand, and the waste-paper bin within easy reach, and am having a long, slow start to today. Me and the cat.

which is a bit of a waste of a beautiful day. I'll get up later and rejoin humanity, maybe. If I can take my tissues with me.

We have celebrated; son and daughter were here last night, and cooked and served a delicious meal, and we played Ank Mpork (and I won, partly because no-one else was concentrating either).

We've had cards and texts and good wishes from friends and family.

And we will be celebrating again; Kind friends have given us a gift voucher for afternoon tea for two at A Very Superior Establishment and I am looking forward immensely to redeeming it in the near future.

I reckon our 40th Anniversary Celebrations, in a sort of on-going, low-key, way, will last for several months to come. Meanwhile, I am, weirdly enjoying today, in spite of snuffles and snorting-into-handkerchiefs. Who wouldn't - in a favourite place, surrounded by favourite people, on a lovely sunny Sunday day.

This is the best kind of happiness.

Monday 18th September - work clothes

I remember reading about an Australian newsreader, who wore the same jacket for a year (I hope he got it dry-cleaned from time to time) and nobody noticed, while his female colleague had to put up with endless comments on everything she wore, and presumably had to spend (waste?) time every morning checking on her outfit, and remembering when she had last worn that top/blouse/jersey.

The male teachers at work seem to follow a similar principle - same trousers, just keep changing the shirt, and occasionally the jumper. S'not fair!

..........................................................

Anyway,

I've been eyeing up getting some leggings for a year or so (let it never be said that I am a hasty, impetuous sort of person).

On Monday, I went to Marks and Spencers, tried on some leggings, and they were so comfortable that I bought two pairs!

I've also been eyeing up a new pair of Hotter boots in the catalogues for a couple of months... On Monday I went and tried them on, and they were so comfortable I bought the red suede ones! But only one pair. (I had a pair of red suede boots when I was expecting number one son, and sore them into holes. These new ones are almost identical, and give me just as much pleasure as the boots I had all those years ago.)

Then, on the way back to the car park, we passed SeaSalt. I've been wondering about those stripy tops for ages, and it would be nice to have some new tops to wear with the new leggings.

I bought three!

            

They are all reversible. So, when I pull them over my head to get undressed at the end of the day, and they go inside-out, they are all ready to put on the next morning!

Oh the ease of getting dressed for work - a pair of leggings and a top and my new red boots. Perfect!

Thursday 14th September - Here's a thing

The newly-formed school choir that I run in the last half-hour of the school day is unexpectedly popular.

"What are you missing in class to be here?" I asked. Silly question?

"Lessons," came the gleeful answer from two dozen children, girls and boys, aged 7 to 11 years old.


I'd dearly love to keep a certain boy - what shall we call him? - 'Liam' - (I'm not teaching any 'Liams' anywhere, as far as I know, so that should be a safe alias) - anyway,  I'd love to keep him in choir, but he is pushing his luck. He's an active little soul. Actually, he is not little, he is rather well-grown for his age (7), appears to have elastic arms that fling about at random, and he constantly talks and makes random noises

"wheee"   "look at this"     "zoom"

or else reads the words out loud while I am speaking or echoes everything I say....

So I moved him away from anyone who would encourage him, admonished him, gave him my killer look

"oooh, she's looking at me" 'Liam' squeaks.

Now I've got him standing next to a serious, well-behaved older girl.

She gives him the killer look and snaps "Be quiet, 'Liam' ".

And 'Liam' is so surprised that he behaves impeccably for the rest of choir.

That girl will go far.

Sunday 10th September - Socks

Today I am wearing socks for the first time since Summer started.

I did wear socks for a few days in Northern Ireland, but that is a chillier country. As in 'Northern'.

Saturday 9th September - To See the Sea

Today, after the first Saturday morning of term (piano lessons, and two crazy and formless sessions called "Keyboard Ensembles") I had a need to see the sea.

It has been creeping up on me, but this South Coast we live near is not one of sandy beaches and interesting cliff-top walks. At least, not interesting in the way Cornwall was. So, the plan was to find somewhere where we could have a good, but reasonably-priced meal, sitting somewhere, preferably outside, with a sea view.

I felt better as soon as we reached Brighton, where we turned left, following the coast past the marina. The sea was same same colour as the railings, the sky blue with a few fluffy clouds... perfect...

www.visitbrighton.com

We continued along, enjoying the view, until we came to Rottingdean

www.tripadvisor.co.uk

This imposing building is The White Horse at Rottingdean, seen from the beach. We sat on the terrace and had excellent sandwiches and a portion of properly crispy chips, taking in the wonderful turquoise and grey-blue sea, with little white caps glinting in the sunlight,
sort of like this

www.azurerottingdean.co.uk

 but with more people and bigger waves.

We've never stopped in Rottingdean before, only struggled through in queues of traffic. It is the most charming little place, all little fishermans' cottages and smugglers' pubs at the bottom of the valley, and large, beautiful Georgian (and earlier) houses at the top end.

A huge grey cloud followed us as we walked back down the main street (past Rudyard Kipling's house, Enid Bagnold's house, Edward Burne-Jones' house) but we made it back into the car just as the first drops of rain fell.

We drove home through real proper rain, the sort that rattles off the windscreen with a sound like hail, and kicks up enough spray to make fog lights a good idea.

(all pictures "found" on the internet as I didn't take any of my own.)

Thursday 7th September - first week of school

Overheard in the reception classroom

A: "I'd like to go back in my Mummy's tummy".
B: "But then you couldn't be with your friends anymore".
A: "But I'd get to see all her blood and bones and insides".

C: "I was nearly born in the toilet because Mummy thought she was having a poo".

Everyone:  Giggle giggle hee hee hee "pooh" giggle giggle "pooh" hee hee hee.


No idea what started this conversation...

Friday 1st September - Veg

I've been growing veg on and off this year -  and every so often we've had a little harvest. Here's todays';

 a few sprouts, some spinach, a couple of tomatoes. Not much, maybe, but still very satisfying. To look at, maybe, if not very filling after cooking! There's not much more to be had from the garden now. The spinach is bolting - again - the leaves change to an arrow-shape - but we eat them anyway.

Hanging baskets don't make for a good yield but do defeat slugs.

You can see one of my three remaining sprout plants in the bottom of the picture below. I was keen to try these, as we had sprouts in Canada last year which were picked before the frosts, and they tasted very different. The empty containers have been refreshed ready for a winter crop of something or other.  

It's been fun to watch them grow from the little bitty seedlings I planted in the Spring.

The broccoli was a complete failure. The crushed chicken wire stands did a good job of making life difficult for slugs. But the cabbage white butterflies have laid eggs with great abandon, and their caterpillars have had much more enjoyment from the broccoli that I will ever get.

 I plan to chit some potatoes and plant them in some of the empty containers in the hope of little new potatoes early in the Spring -maybe even in Winter. So long as I don't forget where I put them...

Friday 1st September - the electric toothbrush

Two minutes seem to take forever - morning and evening, buzzing away with the electric toothbrush. I try and while away the time seeing if I can count to 30 in exactly 30 seconds, when there is a little blip of a pause before the next 30 seconds start. 30 isn't a musical number. Musical numbers tend to be (but aren't always) multiples of 4. I've started counting in French or German to make it more interesting; it also means I count more slowly as I try and remember how it goes.



When I did First Aid training and CPR, we were told to do 30 chest compressions. That doesn't exactly work while you are singing "Staying Alive" to get the tempo right. So I asked if it was ok to do 32 instead. Eight phrases, each four beats long. It was a Music Teacher's course I was on, after all. (32 compressions, some "rescue breaths" - I'll need to look up how many as I've forgotten -  and away you go again).