Evening everyone,
Hope you are all safe and well. What terrible stormy weather we are having. We've had a few family birthdays over the past few days. We've barbequed and got rained off and stood in children's gardens to wave through the window and deliver gifts for grandchildren, once again in the rain. And those storms,wow!!!
The thunder and lightening has been amazing but the rain. It has been horrendous and my poor hanging baskets and plants have taken a real battering day after day.

Been busy baking for the birthdays too.

We have gone from salads in this house for dinner to wanting comfort food. Last night was a casserole with dumplings and tonight it was cheese and potato pie. We had this with baked beans.

Lets hope this vile weather picks up soon so that we can get out and about a little bit within our lockdown rules obviously!

Until tomorrow, stay safe,
Jules x


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A baking kind of day

Evening everyone,
Hope everyone is safe and well.
Apart from a quick walk with the dog between showers today, I've been stuck at home. So, I thought I'd catch up on a few jobs. One job I've been putting off is a good rid out in one of the sets of bedroom drawers. I told myself that I would do one drawer each day but once I'd started I got into the swing and did the whole set. Before I knew it I'd filled a bin bag. I was pretty ruthless and if there was an item that I hadn't worn for a while or was the wrong size (we all have those favourite items of clothing that we hang on to, just in case) into the bag it went, no looking back. I felt quite liberated when I'd finished. The next rainy day I will tackle the wardrobe. Wish me luck!
This afternoon, hubby asked me to bake a few cakes to take with him tomorrow when he is walking with two friends, social distancing of course. They will go in separate cars, this will be three lots of fuel and three lots of parking money, but still, if they enjoy it that's all that matters. They would usually travel together.
Of course I could of just made some plain cakes, but I couldn't resist a few very pink fairy cakes for hubby and his friends. I've wrapped them in foil so he hasn't seen them. Would love to be there tomorrow when they unwrap them! 😊

Stay safe all of you.
Until tomorrow,
Jules x

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Praying for a sunny weekend. Fingers crossed!

Evening everyone,
What a funny day it has been here. One minute its raining, the next sunny, the next windy and chilly. It can't make it's mind up! I put my washing out and before I could get it back in it was wet again. Finally fetched it in late afternoon and had to finish it off in the dryer. So annoying.
I'm hoping that the weather picks up for the weekend as it's my youngest daughter's birthday and we had promised her a bbq to cheer her up. It's been so hard on the young ones, their lives have been changed beyond all recognition. The poor girl has been furloughed from work and forced into isolation with a couple of pensioners. I just imagine myself being in that situation at her age (21), no work, no visiting friends, no social life, no shopping and forced to watch daytime television. Horrific! So, we thought that now some of the restrictions have been lifted, we could let her best friend come over for the evening and do a bbq. Social distancing of course in the garden. So if you could all please cross your fingers for fine weather i'd greatly appreciate it. I really can't face the disappointment and sulking.
 It's funny isn't it how one minute they want to be treated as a grown up and the next they're asking you if you are still making them a birthday cake, oh, and don't forget the candles! I wouldn't change a thing though. Pics of birthday cake on Friday to follow. I'm going to have to be firm with how much of that cake I eat though. I'm scared to get on the scales at the moment.

Well we are halfway through another week. How these weeks are just flying by in this new 'normal' world we are being forced to accept. Days roll into weeks and weeks roll into months. Such a waste. But, at least we look like we are heading in the right direction and hopefully a vaccine will be found so that we can get back to a simpler, less stressful life.
Take care and stay safe everyone,
Until tomorrow
Jules x




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Make what you fancy

Evening everyone, hope you're all safe and well.
I don't know about you but I am a creature of habit. I have porridge and a banana almost every day for my breakfast. If we are on holiday I enjoy a cooked breakfast but wouldn't ever think of cooking one at home.
Well today that changed. I always have my shopping delivered on a Tuesday and so had just enough milk left for breakfast as the shopping arrives at 10. I don't know what made me check but when I did i was very disappointed because the shopping is coming tomorrow!
As I can't go to the supermarket to get any, and, I certainly wouldn't dare to use it all and have none left for my much loved cups of tea, I had no choice but to have something else for breakfast.
I know, I thought, I will have some jam on toast. Oh no, that wasn't an option as there wasn't a slice of bread left. What a sorry state of affairs. We never run out of bread and milk usually and now I was craving toast and Jam. You know how it is when you get something into your head and just cant stop thinking about it. So, out came the mixing bowl and the ingredients and I set about making a loaf of bread.
This is by no means a quick job but two hours later, with the help of a makeshift dutch oven, I had a brown loaf. I couldn't wait for it to cool so sliced the end off and gave it to hubby and then I had the next slice. No butter, just some lovely strawberry jam.

 In these unprecedented times, we just have to make do with what we have and be resourceful.
It's surprising what we can do if we put our minds to it. Where there's a will there's a way and all that.
Have you been baking during lock down? Have you made anything that you've not made before or had to swap ingredients around because you couldn't get them?

Until tomorrow, stay safe
Jules x

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Pandemics and the perils of online food shopping

Evening everyone, I hope that you are all safe and well.

How are you all managing to do your food shopping in these strange times. I haven't set foot in a supermarket for the last 14 weeks. I do have my shopping delivered normally, so, aren't just having it delivered whilst this pandemic is here. There are a couple of reasons for this.
Firstly I found that I could stick to a budget much more easily if I could add or take away from my online trolley.
Secondly if  any of you have ever taken a partner or teenager food shopping, then you will already know how your bill can suddenly be quite a lot more expensive. I've had tools, beers, make-up, etc put into the trolley as well as all number of treats. This can add up to quite a tidy sum. So, with this in mind, I will happily pay the £3.50 a month for my shopping to be delivered once a week. Usually I would pop into the local shop during the week for odd items but generally try not to do this very often as its quite a bit more expensive than Tesco.

The problem at the moment is actually getting the online slots. I understand that they are giving priority to vulnerable people who are shielding or self isolating. The supermarkets have been given lists from the government. This is a great idea and i'm all for it. It's just meant actually getting a slot myself a bit of a nightmare. I'm often awake in the early hours checking the website, and several times during the day. We haven't been going to the supermarket due to hubby having a chest condition, and, we don't want to risk picking anything up.
Tesco seem to just put on any spare slots as and when, so, you just have to keep checking and crossing your fingers. I have found that you are more likely to actually get a slot either in the middle of the night or early morning. If you don't mind having your shopping delivered on a Tuesday or Wednesday then these slots seem easier to spot too.
If you're looking for slots then I hope this has been helpful. Good luck everyone! Lets hope we won't be living like this for much.

Until tomorrow, take care and stay safe,
Jules



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Long time no post

Long time, no post

Evening everyone,

Hope everyone is safe and well.  I've not blogged for over a year, apologies for that. There have been many reasons for this but I won't bore you with the details. Lets just say I've had a very eventful 12 months, and ongoing. 

Well, what strange times we are living through. I hope that everyone is safe and coping as well as can be expected at the moment. Who would ever have envisaged a pandemic and all the horrors that it brings. Here in the UK we have just had a little of the lock down lifted. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Whilst I can appreciate that we need to get the economy moving again, I am worried that it may be a tad too early with the number of deaths still so high. 

The whole thing has made me very anxious. I keep saying that I'm not going to watch the news every day but I can't help it as I'm desperate to see some good news. Fingers crossed we are headed in the right direction and we won't have a second peak. I know lots of elderly people who are struggling with the isolation and loneliness. Its so hard on them. 

Massive credit has to be given to the amazing NHS staff. These heroes have put themselves in danger to help others and done an amazing job. So much respect for them, and, all the other key workers who have battled through this awful time. Lets hope they will be rewarded accordingly. They all deserve so much.

Until tomorrow,

Jules x 

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Empty day suddenly becomes very busy!

Afternoon everyone,
What a beautiful day we have here again. Hubby has been gardening for most of the afternoon.
 This morning when we got up we had a relatively blank canvas for the day. We went to the next village to pick up a birthday present for our granddaughter and then had a walk round the shops. We bumped into an ex pupil which is always lovely. It’s so nice to hear how they are getting on. It's so funny that they have left school years ago butstill call you Sir and Miss.  Next we decided to pop into Wetherspoons for a coffee. Some Wetherspoons can be a bit grotty but this one is actually really nice. £1.25 for a refillable coffee, you can’t go wrong. We sat and chatted and watched the world go by for an hour. It was very pleasand and really relaxing.
Just as we were on the way home the mobiles started to ring and ping. 🙈 'Mum, can you pick the girls up from school tomorrow please and feed them, be great if you could keep them till about half 7 too as I’ve got an extra shift at work.'  'Mum is there any chance  you can ring and get me into the dentist as I’ve broke my tooth and I’m at work and can’t keep ringing.'  'Mum I’ve dropped a massive clanger, I’m at work till half 5 and have forgotten to book After school club for grandaughter, don’t suppose you could fetch her and keep her till I get home from work.' Then it was the step daughter ringing to see if we had an old phone as she has broken the screen on hers 🤷🏼‍♀️. Amongst all this I had my own mum on the phone wanting me to go with her to her club this afternoon as her usual friend wasn’t going. I went from completely relaxed to manic in minutes. How does that happen??? I’m going to start turning my mobile off I think for my own sanity.
For now, whilst granddaughter is playing with the dolls house I am sitting in the garden with a cuppa and no blooming phone!!!

What on earth the kids would do if I was still at work I've no idea. I think the problem is that we are too available and the easy option. Tomorrow my phone may mysteriously be broken.
Hope everyone else has has a relatively relaxing day.
 Until tomorrow
Jules x



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