Sensible food shopping and some restful You Tube tv

 

As you can see, it rained a bit this afternoon - came down in torrents in fact.

I needed to do a grocery shop today to get some more gut-friendly food in.  Lidls' came to £21 which included the meat for the week (King Prawns, Turkey Steaks and Turkey Mince), though the steaks and mince will make meals to go into a 2nd week, mixed nuts, Greek Yoghurt, Mushrooms and veg.  Then to T*sco, and as I shouldn't be eating much red meat now, I saw there was an offer on Linda McCartney veggie burgers and sausages, both of which I like, so those have gone in the freezer and will do two weeks too.  I also got my Wild Salmon Fillets there and 500g will do several meals too.  A nod to Christmas with the tins of chocolates on a special offer so I got Quality Street, either as a gift for friends or for us over Christmas. With cat food, frozen spinach, 500g of blueberries (some to freeze), reduced strawberries etc it came to £42 in Tesco, but that did include half price cat sachets as the box was damaged. Most of it will do me a fortnight.

Above, a swift peek at my new neighbour's veg plot - two long rows of Courgettes which have been doing amazingly all summer.  Below, one of the several who Got Away! This one up to my knee in length and an even bigger circumference.

I had to go to the Health Food shop to see what they had, and hooray, some Wholemeal Self Raising Flour which seems to be like gold dust these days. Then across the road to the school charity shop and found a fab pale bluey green polka dot skirt for just £1.  It's a soft jersey one - so will travel to NZ like a rag! - and made by Cotswold Collections - retailing at £79 :)  Didn't I do well?!  As it was suddenly (where did August go?) pension week again I also indulged myself in a cookery magazine.  Haven't bought a cookery mag for a year or two and this had some super recipes in.

When I got home though, I felt BUSHED.  My heart rate had shot up and I spent the afternoon on the sofa, watching You Tube channels on tv.  A Time Team I don't remember seeing (couldn't sleep so watched it laying down, more listening than watching).  Then to the Homesteading Family channel, to learn about making a natural antibiotic herbal salve using Bergamot, Yarrow and Comfrey.  Then to Azerbaijan to my favourite channels (CLV and Kand Hayati) where my heroine was chopping up MOUNTAINS of home grown vegetables to bottle.  Blimey! I finished off with Kate (the Last Homely House) out in her garden. Heart rate and breathing both very steady after that.  The Azerbaijan one is SO relaxing.

Peppers.

Grated carrot, shredded white cabbage, chopped cucumbers, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, bunch parsley, garlic cloves, which were then layered into big Mason jars and had a spiced sugar/salt/peppercorns/water  - heated up - and apple vinegar mix poured over them. Obviously of a strength to prevent Botulism as the family were all still standing!

I had my tea at lunchtime as I got myself a lovely pasty from the Bakery which hit the spot.  They make theirs with a meaty gravy in, so they aren't all potato and carrot and a titchy bit of meat like many commercial ones.  I have been drinking water regularly, pepped up with a slice of Cucumber which makes it a lot more palatable.

I won't be doing much tomorrow and then Tam and Rosie are here again for a couple of days, and back at the weekend.

I think we had a lot of rain overnight as it woke me several times, where it was being flung at the windows.  I had my cat comforters, as always, and they have been and are still on the sofa this afternoon.

Enjoy your day.