Wednesday 1st March - One of those days...

when the myriad appointments that were cramming my diary and my head melted away...

At 8am I thought I had 6 zooms scheduled; 4 music lessons, one family zoom and Book Club. Most of other book club members meet together face to face, bringing wine, snacks, cake and other delicacies, but they have kept the zoom component going as I am still not meeting people indoors except for unavoidable appointments. 

From 8 to 9 we did a full inventory of the freezer. We should really do this Every month, but at least there weren't too many surprises (HOW many bags of peas? One, in EVERY drawer?)

From 9 to half past we tidied away the last couple of mini croissants,  along with a cup of coffee.

From 9.30 to 11 I was going as hard as I could at the computer and managed to get the MARCH newsletter posted - it's at the top of the pages list. There for you to print off and post to friends if it is something that they might like. And also for me to print and post to a good friend as well.

11 was the first piano zoom, and I also received a text apology for the last pupil of the day. Just 5 zooms today then!

At 3 I started the family zoom, but ended after 15 mins as no one joined me. I can't say I  minded...

So, by 3.30 I just had 2 piano lessons to go, and now, in 10 minutes,  I shall find out which of my suggestions the book club will want to read.

Today has turned out easier than I thought....

Monday 20th January - Cake!

 Yesterday was an unsettling sort of day, but was happily improved by CAKE.

Biscoff cake, which I found on the Sainsburys website. And I quote;

Biscoff three-ingredient cake

This is one of those weird tricks of science that it's best not to think too hard about! If you're in need of a low-maintenance, minimal ingredient bake for a quick elevenses treat, look no further than this science-defying Biscoff bake, made from 1 x 400g of Biscoff spread, 2 large eggs and one and a half teaspoons of baking powder. 

Preheat your oven to 180C, 160C fan, gas mark 4 and line a 20cm cake tin. 

Put the spread in a bowl and heat in the microwave until just liquid. Whisk in the baking powder and then the eggs. Pour the batter into the baking tin and bake for 30 minutes, or until a skewer comesout clean. We're not telling you to melt even more Biscoff spread and pour ir over the top to decorate...but you won't be sorry.  

 So that's their version. I used half a jar, one egg and three-quarters of a teaspoon of baking powder. Whisking didn't really seem possible - it all became the most unlikely sort of mixture, reminiscent of very soft unbaked ginger biscuits. 

I combined it all as best as I could, dumped it into a 15cm tin and baked it in the air fryer at 160 for 20 mins, I think; I tested it with a skewer. 

It was delicious, but very rich and sweet and I am delighted that I DIDN'T melt more Biscoff spread and pour it on the top!

I served it in little squares, and then we went back for more, and then more more, and now there isn't any more.

The book club is shying away from reading T S Eiot's 'The Wasteland' and looks to be heading for the Stella Gibbons book, 'Nightingale Wood'. I hope they are not expecting something like 'Cold Comfort Farm'...

Sunday 5th February

I have had a happy weekend of online shopping - I am still not comfortable visiting shops due to my lung condition, so online shopping has been my way going about things.

Back in the old pre-internet shopping I used catalogues at Christmas time, as much for the joy of having parcels arriving at my home as for sourcing unusual presents. Now I enjoy online shopping for the same reason.

I've downloaded a number of free cross stitch patterns, so I have these already in my sweaty fingers. I also ordered a couple of small kits, when I was having a crisis of confidence on Friday night. What else? A a posy of flowers, some knitting needles, a packet of variegated embroidery threads... I'm looking forward to the post arriving this week! 

I spent most of today drawing out my plan for February's Cross Countyr Collaboration. Unfortunately, when I looked back from my chart to my chosen section on the fabric I discovered my chart was landscape orientation and the section is portrait orientation.  How did that happen?  

I have now photocopied the fabric on the printer, enlarging it to 140%, so that I can draw the chart directly on the copy. Much easier.

The forethought afterthought sock....

Here's how... when I the sock was 7 1/2 inches long, I used a contrast yarn to knit across the sole. That's the forethought bit.

I will complete the sock, and then use one needle to pick up the stitches on one side of the contrast row, and another needle for the stitches on the other side. Then I will carefully snip away the contrast yarn and start making the heel. That's the afterthought bit. 

I've been studying videos and it looks plausible. Possible even...

I'm reading 'The Running Hare, The Secret Life of Farmland' by John Lewis-Stempel. I tripped across the book while looking for pictures of running hares (no, there aren't any in my CCC crosstitch!). I started reading it on the amazon 'look inside' pages, and was hooked.

A possible contender for the book club list. I think I've got my selection sorted now; one weird and modern, one set in the 1940s, this one and maybe a Stella Gibbons.

Monday 16th January - January Book Challenge - update

 Well, I finished 'Nightingale Wood' by Stella Gibbons, which I think definitely counts in the category 'books to make you feel good' in the challenge from our local library.

I've at last managed to get into 'The Twyford Code'. It looks like this may be the first Book Club choice I finish for several months. It's an odd construction, consisting of transcripts of conversations. Some of the interest (and difficulty!) comes from working out the real meaning of the transcription. I don't think I am giving anything away by saying 'missiles' means 'Miss Isles', and 'young guns' means 'younguns'. Some are harder to work out. I wonder if this would work in an audiobook format? Somebody reading out loud the written transcriptions of verbal recordings? I'm 36% of the way through and am still pretty baffled as to where it is all going.

So, what next for an 'easy' read'. I think it is time I had a look at the various books I downloaded when they were on offer for 99p.  

Saturday 7th January - Reading Lists and Challenges

 Our local library is running a reading challenge for 2023.

Here's their suggested list; but I don't think the links will work as this just a screenshot.

So, this month... a book to make you feel good... I suppose this could be a self-help, self-care book, or an exercise book, or a how-to-declutter or a diet book. None of these would be my choice.

I'd prefer a good story, with a happy ending, and some laughs along the way. I'm currently reading 'Nightingale Wood' by Stella Gibbons, and 'The Twyford Code' by Janice Hallett and 'The Gentle Art of Domesticity' by Jane Brockham.

Of these, I think the first best fits January's category.  'The Twyford Code' is the current Book Club choice and I haven't really got stuck in yet. 'The Gentle Art of Domesticity' is a luscious celebration of colour and home crafts (except housework!). I dip in and out; it's rich fare. The photographs and ideas become a bit overwhelming in large doses.

Any suggestions for more January books?