‘Tis the first of December and in three weeks and threeAll needs to be readyfor our yuletide jamboreeBut the cake is still just batterthe presents are not boughtthe wreath is still a-growingbut is she overwrought? No reader she is not. In the Seasonal Steeplechase we are barely out of the traces and (to mix myContinue reading “Here we go again, brace yourselves..”
Category Archives: baking and cooking
Slip sliding away
We are in welly season. We celebrated Lyra’s 6th birthday with a sunny walk along the river in Norham only to find that the “low road” had been converted into a foot deep duck superhighway. Choosing the better part of valour, for once, Mum and I took the high road rather than wade through. EvenContinue reading “Slip sliding away”
A conflagration of leaves
My tale commences on a wet and windy trip to Norham a couple of weeks ago for essential bacon supplies. Lyra expressed the view that she was happy just to stay in the car and listen to the radio whilst I stocked up, with a view to heading straight back to the fire and theContinue reading “A conflagration of leaves”
Lazarus speaks…
I have had this godawful cold/virus for over a fortnight now and only in the last couple of days have I felt even borderline human (as opposed to the land based kin of a race of spluttering green slime monsters from the depths of the Mindanao trench). Keith’s been fairly poorly as well and betweenContinue reading “Lazarus speaks…”
Into the woods
We’ve had a well nigh perfect few weeks. Mostly it’s been lovely and sunny, but with enough dreary/wet days that I’ve actually managed to get a few indoors things done as well. A couple of damson deliveries from Judy have been turned to jam and curd (and in Keith’s case, vodka). The colour was soContinue reading “Into the woods”
Dropping season
It is the season for gravity to flex its muscles. Round by the lake this morning I walked Lyra under a barrage of surprisingly hard, little green acorns. All around there were mysterious cracks, groans and thunks in the undergrowth and Lyra darted here and there, ever alert for squirrel attacks. Down in the woodsContinue reading “Dropping season”
The fruits of our labour
Productivity (of a non gardening variety) has been restored – somewhat – on the old homestead. Keith went off a couple of weeks ago to enjoy a lads’ weekend with Lachlan, pruning and tying up the rose around his door (and visiting the pub next door every hour or so as far as I canContinue reading “The fruits of our labour”
An air of raspberries
It is a week of alternating sunny days and soaking days, with the occasional mashup of sunny downpours to add spice. The humidity on the hot days is punishing and so we try to keep Lyra’s walks to the woods or the river, where at least she can jump in to cool down. A plannedContinue reading “An air of raspberries”
The Hipster Diaries #6 – the short road to freedom
Today I escaped. I had a trial run at the tunnel yesterday and went all in today. A proper dog walk at last…..along the back road and then down towards Kersfield. Not all the way, Mum was getting distinctly “one egg clucky”, but far enough to demonstrate it was fine and operate as a bulkheadContinue reading “The Hipster Diaries #6 – the short road to freedom”
The Hipster Diaries #3: a chastened and regretful Tigger
What seemed a slight stretch/stiffening a the time of the last post (cue bugle) deteriorated to something rather more severe. I was in a lot of pain over dinner and even worse the next morning. A day of limited movement followed. Nurse Lyra assisted greatly. I stuck to my exercises, just, and managed a littleContinue reading “The Hipster Diaries #3: a chastened and regretful Tigger”