Ghostly stories

 I shouldn't be reading them, living alone, let alone in the middle of the night but just read a spooky one on Legendary Dartmoor, which I follow on Facebook.  If you are interested in Dartmoor at all, then visit their website, as SO much information on there about the traditions, history, folklore, flora and fauna etc.  This particular story told of a young man riding 20 miles across the moor on a snowy night, and happening upon an old lady - who ignored him - and later seeing her being murdered, whereupon his horse bolted.  This was all an action replay of course but spooky all the same.

We used to tell the kids about the Hairy Hands, which had been experienced in the Gunpowder Mills/Postbridge area of Dartmoor (where Keith, friend Stu and I used to "wild camp" as it's now called, in the 1980s).  These hands used to grab the wheel of a car and steer it off the road, or else the handlebars of a motorbike on a certain stretch of road.  Logical explanations put it down to the camber of the road . . .  Interestingly this tale - from 1910 - 1920s - faded away with the coming of the radio to these parts, so perhaps folk were less gullible after that.  As we walked back across the moor, beside the East Dart, I still remember shining my torch at the old grey stone wall which separated the moor from the oh-I-want-it house surrounded by beech trees, seeing the little green Maidenhair Spleenwort trembling in the night breeze.  I was so VERY glad never to come across a pair of Hairy Hands!!  

I was glad to leave such things behind me when we left the old house.  Too much happening there for my comfort and peace of mind.

A hanging valley on Milford Sound.  I can remember being taught about these when I was 15 . . .

I don't think that much happens in Builth itself, though there is a haunted hotel in the vicinity.  Not so far away, my mind takes me back to a lovely old stone house (1600s or so with a Latin inscription over the door) which Keith really liked, though it had no outside storage or parking.  It was a few miles from Talgarth.  I went into the living room and eyed the blocked up door in the corner.  I could pick up the vibes from feet away (Keith couldn't) and I told him in uncertain terms there was no way we were going to buy THAT house.  Violent death had happened in that doorway and there was something still lingering.   I heard from a friend in Hay, who knew the lady who used to live there, that it did come with "add ons" . . .

I am very popular now I'm back . . .

My sleep pattern is still all over the place.  I could NOT stay awake past 8.15 last night and of course, woke at 3.15 (not that I slept right through before that, waking every hour or so).  I may have to get some knock-out drops from the Dr or pharmacy.  Surely this can't still be jet lag, over a week on?  I need to get out for a good walk, weather permitting.  Tam & Rosie are here for the weekend, and we will get the Christmas tree, and we're also going to Hay Christmas Market on Saturday, so that will get me out and about.  I have written all the cards now but need to do a couple of letters and wrap a couple of gifts to post.  I am still binge-watching Broadchurch, but spotted the film of Under The Greenwood Tree (Thomas Hardy) and enjoyed that too.  Lots of archaeology/history as well.

Right, 5.30 a.m.  Perhaps I should head back to bed?  (I did, but a waste of time as I didn't sleep and came down at 7.)

Put Christmas on Hold

 Right now, happy just to stay resting over the next month as the cold, whilst not a bad one at all, has added to the tiredness levels and I don't want to do anything.

Geology at Scenery Nook, on our catamaran trip from Akaroa.

I've just taken the car down for MoT and Pam gave me a lift back.  I have asked my neighbour if he can drop me down again this afternoon - or tomorrow if we have to wait for parts.

I am now signed up for an afternoon's course in water colour painting (Tam is doing it with me, in Aber).  Waiting to hear if there are places on a couple of other courses there too.

On Instagram I have followed lea_and_elfie for a good while.  They are spinners and weavers and make wonderful textiles.  I am considering one of their courses too, perhaps the Art Journal Book Making course.  They live about 40 miles from me.  

Anyway, I now have some things to look forward to, even in bleak January (the afternoon arty things in Aber).

My sofa awaits . . .

Suitably rested, I have just been choosing my own piece of Dartmoor.  It is a jug from Joss at Powdermills Pottery.  Keith and I would always visit when we were down at Postbridge, and we bought my huge Thomas Toft charger by Carole Glover.  I am now negotiating which one I will buy myself as my Christmas present from me, to me.  Cut me and I bleed Dartmoor, so as this is made from Dartmoor river clays, and in Dartmoor, it can't get any more "me".

Better and not better . . .

 Better on the sleep front, but  a bit of a cold which has of course gone straight to my chest, so need to keep an eye on that.

Woke at 3 a.m. and my hand wanted to sew.  I am full of ideas craft-wise and want to do a couple of courses next year.  I sat down and watched Broadchurch and did blanket stitch all the way round the holly leaves on the 50p Christmas santa sack I got this week.  Now my eyes want to shut, as I've just had chips from the chippy.  Back in the morning.

Baking at breakfast time

 

Here's two I made earlier!  Someone asked for the recipe, so yer tis as they say down in Devon.

As you can tell from the grubby page, this has been made dunnamany times over the 45+ years that I have owned this book!   I always make two at a time, as the first disappears magically :)

And here's what I am making in a moment:

Moist Date and Almond Cake – Ultimate Recipe You’ll Love   The link will take you to the page I have copied the recipe from, and shows nice photos etc.

Ingredients

Scale

• 1 ½ cups pitted dates, chopped
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup almond flour
• ½ cup sliced almonds for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper.

2. Place chopped dates in a bowl, pour boiling water over them, stir in baking soda, and let sit for 10 minutes.

3. In another bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, almond flour, and salt.

4. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

5. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.

6. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture gently, avoiding overmixing.

7. Add the softened date mixture and fold until combined.

8. Spoon batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top.

9. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top of the batter.

10. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

11. Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For extra flavor, use brown sugar instead of white sugar.

This cake tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.

Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Anyway, it turned out pretty well, and I took it down, still warm, to Ed and Sam, whose eyes lit up!

Still not feeling 100% - groggy head, so wonder if it is a sort of bug I've got but not the streaming nose sort.  Back to the sofa methinks with a book I've just treated myself to.  UPDATE: Been asleep on sofa most of afternoon.  No appetite.  Legs like chewed string and throat feeling sore.  Tummy upset too and thought I was going to be sick earlier.  A week on from my flight back and I really thought I had escaped having caught something on the plane.  Perhaps I have picked something up since, despite scrubbing hands after touching trolley handles etc. last week and yesterday.

Would be happy not to relive yesterday again!

 Oh my goodness, yesterday was NOT good.  I thought I had sleeping sickness.  I just could NOT stay awake.  I slept for an hour in the morning (having woken up for good at 5 a.m.), another after lunch, then at 5 I fell asleep sitting upright, managed to have curry for a meal, and then fell asleep on the sofa again and didn't wake up until 8.50 p.m.  I took myself off to bed then.  I slept until 2 ish, came downstairs for a cuppa and to read, then after a couple of hours, went back to bed and slept on until just before 6 a.m.  My body was clearly wiped out. I feel just a tad more with it today.

Penguin display at the Antarctic Centre, where Rosie took me on the Monday before I flew back.  It was a guided tour, and very good.  I passed on going into the cold room, where they gave you an arctic jacket and turned the temperatures right down for 5 mins or so.  Rosie had 3/4 length trousers on so her calves and ankles felt that bitter cold!

A couple of the real penguins.  These are all rescues - one has a damaged tongue so could never hunt as they use their tongues to get the fish turned around and down their throats; and another had lost a leg. 

Two of the huskies on display. They were really relaxed!  We saw two different varieties of huskies outside. One, the Malamute, was very heavy boned and as the guide explained, pretty thick in the head!!

We went round the Haaglund course - these are the tracked vehicles used in the Antarctic which cope really well with snow hills, slopes, slabs of broken ice, crevices etc.  I was elected co-Pilot, which meant I had to tell the driver when the road was clear so he could do the circuit and I sat in the front.

The crevice we went over.

I took a video, but am being told it is too big so will have to wait until Tam is here at the weekend, and she can talk me through it.

I found this lovely little puffin in a charity shop this week and of course it came home with me.  When Rosie was over here last (in 2004), we all went to Skomer Island, off the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast.  There the Puffins are so unbothered by people, they would walk around your feet.  When I saw this, I was instantly taken back to our visit.

This morning I was determined to try and avoid a morning nap, so went off to Brecon, over the Epynts (as the other road in town is closed for roadworks at the moment.)  I got cat food and Christmas place mats from B&M Bargains, and then went to Morrisons for a couple of things, including a Steak and Kidney pie for my tea tonight.  I had a wander round the town and got stamps for the first lot of Christmas cards, and another two packs of C/Cards from the Red Cross charity shop (they were on a half price special).  Another stop at the Tenovus charity shop, where I found a good quality navy cotton mix jumper by the Crew Clothing Company.  £7.99.  Price new is £49.

This afternoon I have been relaxing watching Ruth Mott's Country Christmas (1995) and JUST up my street.  Then The British Christmas Desserts No-One Makes Any More.  Well, I have never even heard of anyone eating Sticky Toffee Pudding prior to the year 2000 although apparently it was a "thing" from the 1970s onwards.  NOT in 1950s Britain at Christmas though.  No more was something called Tunis Cake.  As for Blancmange (he pronounced the C, for heaven's sake!), that was a Sunday teatime thing, rather than a Christmas treat and Queen of Puddings was something we had at School.  Ah well, the screen didn't mind me shouting at it.

I am now hoping to stay awake till gone 9 p.m. before taking myself off to bed.  Let's hope I am over the worst of the jetlag now.

Well, I wasn't expecting THAT to happen!

 My body clock is still messed up - NOT helped by Alfie, who yowls to go out in the wee small hours, by which time I have had several hours sleep and in consequence, am wide awake by the time I've come downstairs in the cold and let him out.  He has taken to sitting beside my computer, just as dear old Ghengis used to do.

These beautiful Kiwis were in a tourist shop in :

I didn't dare look at the prices, but told myself they would break on the way home . . .  I am trying to have LESS in the house, not more.

This Maori carving was the result of many hours work.

From the Trans-Alpine express.  I don't know if this was a single fall of scree or an accumulation over many years.

When we took the Lighthouse Road out of Akaroa, and found we were heading the wrong way.  It was worth it for the views. My goodness it was STEEP though, and Rosie's little car really struggled.  We had to park it up for half an hour later to let it cool down!

Such a cheerful picture mid-winter here.  No frosts, so nothing to stop the Geraniums just growing and growing.

Yesterday I was woken around 3 a.m. again - thanks Alfie - and having pottered, and tried to sleep after a couple of hours (no luck), I came down and made Apple Gingerbread and put a half and half white/granary loaf in the bread maker.  I am trying to avoid spending money on boughten bread now and home-made is much nicer.  I rose it to dough, put it in one of my big heavy bread tins, brushed it with milk and sprinkled it with big chunky seeds.  Yum.  I hope my friend Rosie is enjoying using the Panasonic bread maker she was given, as it does make a good loaf (and hers has a better dark crust than mine, which is why I generally cook them in the oven.)

I blew the dust off my old housekeeping books (home made things for the home).  The bottom one, the Carla Emery book, I will probably sell as it deals with all aspects of small holding and living off grid, so not so useful for me in my dotage!  She is VERY thorough and every aspect of Country Living is covered. Shout out if you are interested.  It's £15 plus postage.

White-headed heron by our motel in Akaroa.

I have finally unpacked the huge suitcase I took (half the stuff never got worn so went away clean, and we had washed as we went at Rosie's).  She mixes her own washing liquid and I found that the irritated skin round my shoulders/neckline went away.  Obviously my changing to a cheaper Bio washing powder had been a poor executive decision. I used to make my own washing powder at Ynyswen, and will do the same again now.  I have several part used bars of good soap I can grate up, and have ordered some Borax online, and need to source some Washing Crystals.  Neither Tesco or Co-op have them, so I shall try the little oddbits shop in town as they are the sort of place old-fashioned enough to stock them.  I will share the recipe when I make it up.

On the way to Akaroa.

Anyway, I was happily watching Broadchurch last night when I suddenly had a zigzag light in my left eye.  I've only had that once before, many many years ago when put on a contraceptive pill which didn't agree with me.  I texted Tam and she came back saying it was an Ocular Migraine.  Probably from where I am SO out of kilter with my sleep patterns and definitely not helped by watching a tv barely a foot from my eyes on the plane (I had to use my reading glasses).  I had to just listen to The 2nd-best Marigold Hotel rather than watch it as my eyes were hurting, so I clearly upset my eyes then.  I will try not to do too much on the computer.  I went straight to bed but by the time I got upstairs, the zigzag lights had faded, but today my eye feels a bit "sore" so I will book in at the Optician's tomorrow and get it checked out.  My blood pressure seems a bit high, so I need to get walking again, having rested a couple of days at home.

We passed this lovely camper home on our way out of Christchurch.  On the side, engraved in the glass, was a dove, and a late middle-aged couple were driving off for a nice weekend somewhere.   It reminded me of a motorised shepherd's hut.

Well, today is a sit down and write Christmas cards/letters sort of day.  It's 5 a.m. so I will see if I can sleep again.  I picked up a copy of Jilly Cooper's Rivals on the Charity Table in Co-op so that's nice light reading to get me off to sleep.  S J Parris's Heresy, whilst truly excellent, not so restful.

Some more NZ thoughts, artwork and wild birds

 

This picture of Umbellifers was in one of the small galleries we visited on our travels.  I thought it was lovely.  One of the sad things about whizzing along on the bus was that there were areas I would have loved to stop at to photograph.  Especially a river with about an acre or more of colourful Lupins in bloom.  They are everywhere (but being eradicated from the National Parks) but to see them in such huge quantities was mindblowing.  I have made a note that any plantings here in future will be en masse for impact.  I have grown a few Lupins from seed this summer, so will plant some more to get started in the greenhouse once we have seen January out.

Here is somewhere our bus driver did stop for photo opportunities.  He kindly took my pic.  This was within half an hour or so of leaving Franz Josef, heading for Greymouth.

The light in these little paintings was amazing and the red dots showed them all sold - probably all together Rosie thought.  Aren't they beautiful?  They really capture the wonderful light on the mountains. They could well be Akaroa.

This wonderful painting of Olive orchards is in Rosie's house and painted by a talented friend of hers.  I absolutely loved it although this photo does not do it justice.

Where there were hoardings - and because of the 2011 earthquake there were still many and buildings needed to be rebuilt - local artists had been asked to go and decorate them.  Lots of NZ birds.  The Pukeko left was probably the most-squashed bird on the NZ roads.  They seemed to have absolutely no road sense whatsoever and were a very common breed especially in the fields around Christchurch and Rangiora.  The pretty Tomtit on the right I was lucky to see in the trees at Mirror Lake on the way to Milford Sound.  I noted 50 bird species that I encountered on my travels and treated myself to a little book to help identify them.  Some British birds were introduced when colonisation began - Blackbirds (v. successful), Thrushes, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Starlings, Rock Pigeons, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, lots of Yellowhammers, and Redpolls (the latter I was lucky to spot on my first day - they seem relatively uncommon in my part of the UK). Sparrows are probably the commonest bird imported - saw them in Jordan too, so they get everywhere!

Guess who forgot the bino's ?!!  This is Rosie's local beach and estuary.  Lovely there.

The yellow Lupins are the default colour and grow wild in many places.

Wild Sweet Peas.

A weird cloud formation . . .

I was trying to capture the immensely tall "hedges" around the Canterbury area.  They are windbreaks and much needed when the winds come calling.  Every afternoon there was half a gale in the Christchurch area - winds of about 30 mph with gusts.  Just before I had arrived there had been a terrific storm with winds reaching up to more than 150 mph in the high areas.  That just seems incredible, but you can understand why 20 foot "hedges" are necessary, if only to catch the sheep as they fly past!!

A nice pic of my friend Rosie.  Missing you already my dear.  Thank heavens for technology so we can have video calls rather than relying on snail mail . . .