I have - unsurprisingly - acquired the cold that Gabby had on holiday. Not a bad one - a bit of a sore throat, a bit of a sniffle - until yesterday when I came back from my walk and suddenly felt chilled. I retired to the sofa with a hotty botty and a woollen blanket, but that wasn't enough and I had to turn the central heating on for a while. I even put my electric blanket on before I went to bed AND took up a hotty botty. I woke in the night from a nightmare where I was struggling to breath, to find out that yes, I was struggling to breath and think this may be the start of a chest infection.
I shall rest up today, and be glad that I made the most of yestrerday's sunshine. We are back to overcast and chilly this morning. I pottered around yesterday but managed to achieve this:
1. Cleared kitchen table. Books put away, pile of paperwork sorted.
2. Started sorting out proper compost heap. Took outer printed skin off ancient banana boxes put out to recycle, and tore up inner card for compost. Added contents of sewing room bin. Added more water.
3. Topped up planters with soil from planter than the roofers managed to drop something on and smashed the edge, and planted a pack of mixed colour Nasturtiums. Did some weeding around roses in the front.
4. Did a load of washing.
5. Sorted out a box of old stock in stables and checked through two others. Need to further sort out and put some stuff for charity shop. Put all china cats in same box.
6. Emptied a Tamzin Box from attic, some stuff for her, some to chuck, and repurposed it for sewing things in the craft room.
7. Went for a walk.
I was going to bake Norwegian Apple Cake from one of the Library Books, but ran out of energy so will do that after breakfast today. I may make some cookies too, as the lovely Debbie from deepest Pembrokeshire, sent me some Betty Crocker Cookie magazines. Bless you Debbie.
Not sure quite what to make of the latest (and last) season of Outlander. Claire and Jamie both seem to be more irritable, or perhaps I mean less tolerant. I was NOT expecting what happened to Fergus as it departed totally from the book. Does anyone else follow it? I have all her novels, and most of them on Audible too, though I find some of the details hard to cope with since Keith's death, as elements bring it all back and I am driving along crying. I have to say as a love story, and historically accurate series, it is brilliant. Is anyone else a fan and been following every word?
I shall have a sofa morning and carry on reading Elly Griffiths The Night Hawks which I got from the Charity Shelf in Tesco's. It bears re-reading. I read Marram by Leonie Charlton, whilst I was away on holiday. It was a birthday present (along with two others). It tells of an ambitious ride on Highland ponies the length of the Outer Hebrides. Well worth reading. I am debating about starting The Dovekeepers next.
When you list what you did when just pottering you can surprise yourself with your achievements
ReplyDeleteToday I did very little apart from collecting my prescription from Boots, cutting up veg for tea (stir fry) and carrying on with cutting up the peppers, park choi, mushrooms, courgettes, spring onions for the freezer. I bought the biggest packs I could find so they will do for perhaps 10 meals in various guises. I think I will do a pizza for tomorrow night - that will do four big pieces, one to eat, 3 to freeze.
DeleteI watched the first few series of Outlander and loved them, but gave up watching when they moved to America and the story lines started focussing more on the younger characters, who I didn't find very interesting. I also got fed up of Claire acting more like a love-struck teenager than a middle-aged woman.
ReplyDeleteI guess that I am more of a detective show/thriller kind of a girl!
I have loved them all - such a huge sweep of history - although France was I think my least favourite. I listen to them on Audible too.
DeleteThat Copper Beech is glorious. The green ornamental beech in my garden suddenly came into life over night on Sunday
ReplyDeleteI am very fortunate. I always wanted one. It has seeded itself on the Bank too, towards the top fortunately. A couple of days of sunshine and all the trees suddenly take off.
DeleteI've been putting off watching the last season of Outlander for some reason, I see it there and think to myself no not yet I'm not in the mood, but one day I will maybe.
ReplyDeleteRecently we signed up to the Brit Box app because the at least the British dramas are well acted and mostly have no swearing I get sick of every second word being f--- and car chases I've seen enough, where is the good dialogue. Well I got that off my chest.
the good news is we got our first great grandchild yesterday so a lovely happy thing to celebrate and finish with. From Shirley in Perth OZ
I hope you will come round to the last Outlander. Have you watched Blood of my Blood too?
DeleteI got the kids to put money towards History Hits subscription on the tv/my phone etc and Gabby pays for my Netflix sub, bless her. I have Prime too and there's lots on Youtube, so always plenty to chose from. Have you seen the new Jane Austen period drama - The Other Bennet Sister? The best thing I've seen for years.
CONGRATULATIONS on your first great grandchild. I have only just got started with my first grandchild!
The other day I think you were asking about syrup when you had picked up an AWW cookbook if you mean golden syrup then yes we do as there are so many Poms ( English migrants, like me) here it's very popular especially in baking, Golden syrup dumplings used to be a great favorite when my kids were growing up in the days of proper puddings yummy. From Shirley in OZ
ReplyDeleteGolden Syrup is something I use in baking, and ginger biccies, and wouldn't be without it. My mum used to make a Syrup Tart with a lattice of pastry across it.
DeleteJust have to say it, Dog Mercury has balls. Now I shall go on a hunt as to how Dog Mercury spreads. Violets always, apparently, occupy old woodlands that have since disappeared.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Thelma!! I'm glad I am keeping your brain ticking over! A few Violets have been in the lawn since I arrived here but as I don't use chemicals, they are now spreading into the gravel paths and the cracks in the concrete around the pond too.
DeleteI do hope you can nip that cold in the bud! The violets are so pretty, and they do give of themselves so freely across the garden! Enjoy your baking, with recipes from Betty Crocker by way of deepest, darkest Peru, er, Pembs! I stopped watching Outlander a while back, too gory for me but I'm sorry you're disappointed with the ending.
ReplyDeleteIt really isn't much of a cold, just annoying it is lingering and thinking about residing in my lungs. I think Outlander is representational of the times they were living in. In battles, there is bloodshed, always . . .
DeleteYour pottering sounds extremely productive. I hope you manage to fight off this cold/possible chest infection before it takes hold. It has gone cold hasn't it, I have no idea what to put on any morning when I wake up. T shirts are only good if I have a fleece handy to grab later on.
ReplyDeleteWell, pottering was shelved today but I did catch up on my broken sleep from last night. I am still wearing 3 layers each day - long sleeved cotton top, sweatshirt and fleece. . .
DeleteRest up.
ReplyDeleteYes ma'am!
ReplyDeleteOh no, sounds like you caught a chill from the cold Spring air, I find I get sinus infections when the seasons are changing over, hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteNo, defo Gabby's cold I cought! We were sharing accommodation etc and that did for me!
ReplyDeleteThe spring flowers are so sweet and dainty. I also loved your garden pot of red tulips, mine never grow, the bulds freeze and rot. Such a joy.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch or read Outlander now, tho I read a few of the first books. I find the lead couple unappealing--and in general the books/ series, for me, are too violent. But I know everyone else loves the series.
Omigosh you do so much!
I'm sorry you are ill. Should you see the doctor asap w the chest infection? You struggled with the last event for months after your NZ trip.
love
llizzy
I wonder if a little minio-greenhouse set up would help your Tulips? Some gardening fleece over them to keep the frost from nipping them.
DeleteI found the Outlander books an amazing love story and Jamie very easy on the eye in the series! They depict the history of your country and yes it WAS violent, even when they are out picking berries and one of the women is killen by a bear. Things like that happened.
I wonder what you would think of me if you saw the work I do on a BUSY day!
This is still just a bit of a cold, and Gabby's soon faded. My chest feels ok now, and I think it must be a cold I have had in the past and my body is reacting to rid me of the germs. This is nothing like the one I had after NZ, fortunately.
Outlander is a love hate thing. I loved most of the books and the first two series. This last weries is jumping the shark. Even Ms. Gabaldon has been on Facebook saying she had nothing to do with killing Fergus.
ReplyDeleteYour cold sounds like what took us down. For me it started off as a really sore back then turned into a cold that turned into the flu. I managed to pull a muscle in my underarm/chest coughing and it still hurts. Basically out of action for a good two and a half weeks.
Feel better soon.
This last series is being done with shock tactics, and I am NOT looking forward to the ending. As for the Faith didn't die nonsense, I am ignoring that!
DeleteGabby soon recovered from the cold she had - we shared a drink one day, hence me getting it, quite apart from being together 24/7. Ouch to your pulling a muscle and being laid low for nearly 3 weeks.
What a great deal of pottering you did. I do watch Outlander and I agree with you. Some pretty strange things happening on the show.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I rested up yesterday, so will need to get back to work today.
DeleteI read one of her books and it just wasn't my thing. I have not watched the series.
ReplyDeleteWe all have our favourite writing styles/topics and I guess DG is not for everyone, especially with the sexual content and the battle scenes.
ReplyDelete