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'.