At the Jolly Badger Harvester

Yesterday I went off to the library, and, after walking for a while, went home and caught up with emails.
Tania and Robert drove down to us, and we went off to the Jolly Badger Harvester for dinner. While we waited for a table we had a drink, then very soon a nice meal in the attractive farmhouse style surroundings.

Afterwards Tania and Robert came back to our place, and while Robert and Mas talked, Tania and I went into the garden and looked at plants. Tania really loves my Salvia ( Hot Lips), and took some to make cuttings. Later she will give me some of her Fennel. I love the taste of it chopped up, and sprinkled on new potatoes with butter.....another slimming snack!

We all talked until we were ready to drop, then Tania and Robert went home, and we went to bed.

Today I woke at 5.00am, feeling very tired, but not able to go back to sleep. Mas left to meet up with David for lunch, and I hung about all day, and watched Murder she Wrote. I noticed that we seem to be in the flight path of some small damsel flies, and I have to rescue them when they get trapped in the conservatory. I also saw some rose leaf eating caterpillars which had skeletonized some of the leaves.

We went to bed early, and I found I still could not relax; later I discovered that I had taken a double dose of my medication which had wound up my metabolism.

It's snow fun

Today was our day to go to St.Albans, but Robert phoned and said they would drive down to us, and we arranged to have a pub lunch together. Tania has somehow managed to keep working during this snowy and icy weather, visiting her clients during the evenings, and in one case she had to borrow a shovel from one of them to dig herself free of snow so that she could get home.

It was really nice to get out of the house for a while, and we had a really chatty fun meal together.


Joan sent this lovely picture from her Canadian forests.




















Later in the day I got a really bad headache, but nevertheless watched an NCIS in the evening.

Today with the snow and ice still around I took the bus to Edgware and got some fruit and lots of cough sweets for Mas as his cough has got much worse. We watched 'Ello 'Ello, and Murder she Wrote and generally got rather bored, but kept warm indoors.

Thanksgiving meal

We planned to go swimming today, but somehow the time ran away and all we seemed to do was to go round one supermarket after another. Having generally exhausted ourselves we stayed home, and started preparing for the Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, and made ourselves a nice dinner in the process.

Today we tidied up the house and began the preparations for the meal. Poppy and Ben arrived first, quickly followed by Tania and Robert. Although we had put snacks in the conservatory, everyone was drawn naturally to the fire and we had drinks and chatted until Lorraine and Pete arrived.

I had previosly laid the dining room table, and we had our Thanksgiving meal in soft lighting with candlelight and sparkling white wine, followed by the red wine, and chatted for several hours; it was a very nice evening.

Lorraine and Pete stayed overnight, and the next day we had a light breakfast of pancackes and coffee, and spent time talking. Lorraine showed us pictures of the unusual house she will be buying soon.

After they left Mas and I, feeling at a bit of a loose end, took ourselves off to The Man in the Moon for a roast Sunday dinner. In the afternoon I listened to the classic serial on the radio: ' Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,' by John Le Carré.

Christian sent pictures from Basel which is having a food market, and everything gearing up for Christmas. In the evening we watched New Ticks, but it was rather a depressing episode. And so to bed.

Swine Flu and Halloween followed by rainbows

Yesterday was our day to go to St.Albans, but when we phoned Robert we found out that poor Tania has got Swine Flu. I decided it was safest not to meet with Robert as my immunity may be a little low. In any case I was feeling a bit under the weather and did not think the drive would make me feel better, so I decided to take it easy all day.

Later Mas and I got some shopping at Stanmore, and stocked up on Halloween treats. We only had two groups of children visit, the younger ones being watched by their parents at a safe distance. Sadly people are afraid for the safety of their children. Later, people started letting off fireworks, and this will probably go on for weeks now, but is not very comfortable for the animals.

This morning the sun was shining while we had breakfast. This time of the year the sun is so low that it shines through the Chrystal ball, that Toby bought in Portugal, which hangs in our window. This causes an array of small rainbows, that look like exotic tropical fish, to cover walls and ceiling. As they move slightly it gives Salty endless fun chasing them and trying to catch them.

I had a nice email from Therrie giving me all the interesting news from Basle, and did a bit more pinning and sewing. For someone who does not like sewing I seem to do lots of it.

The cult of the Elasticated One

We drove off to St. Albans to meet Tania and Robert for lunch. We met in the market and walked off to the Bua Thai for lunch. We had a nice meal and a lot to talk about. Tania had to work this afternoon, and we had not done our shopping yet.


When we left the restaurant, Tania in a hurry, and searching quickly for words, said, before she left she had to go "to the elasticated one." This of course played into Robert's hands, and he said it sounded like a new religion. Repairing to the market sewing stall Robert began to make obeisances to the stall holder, worshipping her. This really shocked Tania who told him to stop it, then Robert told her to come away as it was probably a cult. After this silliness we went to do our shopping, and Tania left for work shaking her head as she went.










Salty was still sleeping where we left him this morning.

Good company and cat sleepover

Today we went up to St. Albans and got our shopping before going round to Tania and Robert's house for a leisurely and tasty lunch. Tania showed me what is growing in her garden, and we all chatted for a while before Robert and Tania took us off to see where Butterfly World is being made, it will be the worlds largest collection of butterflies. The drive to the site is through a meadow of wild flowers, we got out of the car to admire them. There is a mixture of varieties and colours that is absolutely stunning. http://www.futuregardens.org/feature.php

We drove back to their house and then Mas and I dragged ourselves away and drove home feeling rather tired. We unloaded all the fruit and vegetables.
Poppy called in to see whether we had the Swine flu, because she would give us medication if needed, but after answering a few questions it was clear we have a different bug. We talked for a while, and as Poppy left she said if we did not want Salty she would have him.

During the night Salty jumped onto the bed, bringing his hedgehogs with him, and lay on my feet. I eased him off as he is quite heavy now, and he spent the night sleeping on the bed instead of playing outside in the garden. I think he must have understood what Poppy said!

Sunday roast and coffee with Florence

Sunday,Tania and Robert called round today and we had a Sunday Roast at Stanmore for a change. We had a lot to talk about, and the lunch was delicious. As it was Robert's busy weekend they did not come home, apart from dropping us off. Later I went for a walk

Monday, I walked down to the doctor's for a routine appointment, and later walked around the shops picking up a few items. Mas and I seem to be caught up doing all manner of boring household things which need doing today.

On Tuesday afternoon I walked down towards Edgware. As I was waiting to cross the road Wynford from next door passed me, and said 'Hello Margaret' and leaned out of the car window and waved; a huge truck was following him, and the driver hailed me in the same way which made me laugh. I met Florence and a friend in Starbucks, and we had a drink and piece of cake each while chatting for a long time. Although I talk to Florence on the phone quite often, we had not met up for at least a couple of years.

Thai lunch and walking with Pete

I spent a few days seeing a few friends and neighbours, but felt that I could not settle down and concentrate as I seem to be in waiting mode all the time.

On Tuesday for want of anything better to do I took a bus ride through Mill Hill and off to North Finchley and back again. Later I caught up with my emails and watched something on TV with Mas.














On wednesday we went as usual to St. Albans; the countryside is coming back to life and looking very fresh. We met Tania and Robert for lunch at the Thai restaurant, and caught up with all the news, our friendly restaurant owner gave us a huge dish of complimentary banana fritters on scoops of icecream. We were so full afterwards that we did not feel like buying much fruit and vegetables from the market.

Thursday morning I was lucky enough to be able to see a doctor as I had got an eye infection, and got some antibiotic drops. Before too long Pete arrived and we had lunch together before leaving Mas to do his tax returns.

We went off for a walk from Elstree across fields, round the golf course and eventually came out in Butterfly Lane. There was a cold wind, but the air was scented as lots of the trees were in blossom. We saw a stately Heron standing beside a small pool, but before I could photograph him he flew off into another field. We did not walk for too long as Pete had to go off to London for dinner.



















There are new paths on the golf couse which are made of sea shells instead of gravel. Bluebells are begining to flower too.