November in Numbers 6&7

And yes folks, yes it DID work. The modified regime of sticking to the minimum Stateside Trooper exercises, joyfully exceeding the calorie limit and defiantly eating crisps and peanuts paid off. No less than 20 tablespoons have removed themselves from the equation and possibly a soupçon more. That could be 6 scones at least!. ThrowContinue reading “November in Numbers 6&7”

November in Numbers #3,4 &5

It’s been rather a rollercoaster. Buoyed by the loss of 4 tablespoons of weight on two successive days I piled into the American exercises with gusto and added a few extras and actually kept the calories down a bit. The fates then punished me for hubris and added them all back with a few extraContinue reading “November in Numbers #3,4 &5”

November in numbers #2

Despite a drizzly start, by the time I had collected mum the sun was coming through for a walk through the woods with Lyra. The colours were spectacular, with the hazels a light clear yellow, with a green rime at the edges and the beech an explosion of burning embers. As we walked along theContinue reading “November in numbers #2”

November in numbers #1

November is the month when the suspicion that I might just have bitten off more than I can chew descends. The evil augurs commenced with the arrival of bulb box No.3 yesterday. Today the morning coffee came with the cheerful announcement that the requested 4 dumpy bags of compost had arrived. I blearily looked atContinue reading “November in numbers #1”

Atmospheric pressure

The dog has been on its holidays (camping with Lachlan and Matthew) and I have been in overdrive. Perhaps it was the windy weather, setting everything astir, but I’ve been a positive tyro the last few days. The larder is in siege mode. Copious pears and apples have been bottled. The freezer is awash withContinue reading “Atmospheric pressure”

In praise of fields

I’ve been a little lax with this of late. A conjunction of events, some of the “dear boy” variety. In many ways the most significant cause is the most mundane – our 15 year old fridge freezer has become unreliable. It has not lain down and died, like the good and faithful workhorse it is.Continue reading “In praise of fields”

Three go to Arran (sorry Lyra)

Another blog from earlier in the summer which has been lurking unloved and unfinished in my drafts. This is, however, the last one and after this I shall have largely caught up with myself just in time to fall behind again during our imminent late summer holiday. In the last week of July Mum wasContinue reading “Three go to Arran (sorry Lyra)”

The real salt path

As I type this, I am hurtling backwards towards London accompanied by Capuçon playing Bach’s Partita No. 3 for solo violin (a lucky score in a random selection downloaded on my last trip – I had not hitherto heard of the fellow but Dr Google has opined and he is a rather dishy frenchman). IContinue reading “The real salt path”

A moment to myself

I am in an unashamedly self-indulgent mood. The weather is still just hot enough for me to justify a degree of sloth on the patio, trusting to drought to slow the weeds. (If I venture forth it is for light weeding, dead heading and pot watering. Everything is overblown and slightly crispy). Our stream ofContinue reading “A moment to myself”